What's happening
This bill prohibits the use of toxic chemicals in fracking solutions, allowing only natural and organic materials during hydraulic fracturing.
Why it matters
Reduces risks to public health and water safety. by banning the use of chemicals like benzene, toluene, and xylene—known toxins linked to cancer, neurological damage, and water contamination—in fracking operations.
Limits industry flexibility. by mandating that only natural and organic materials can be used in fracking solutions, potentially increasing costs or reducing efficiency for oil and gas companies, but prioritizing environmental and community safety.
Empowers regulatory oversight. by allowing the state environmental commissioner to classify additional substances as “toxic,” ensuring the law can adapt to new scientific findings or emerging chemicals of concern.
Signals a shift in regulatory approach. to hydraulic fracturing in New York, potentially influencing other states and setting a precedent for stricter controls on fossil fuel extraction processes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Toxic Fracking Chemicals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3304
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ, COLTON, ZEBROWSKI, LIFTON, GLICK, MOSLEY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the use of certain fracking solutions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 23-0505 to read as follows: § 23-0505. Hydraulic fracturing; prohibition on certain fracking
solutions.
1. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
a. "fracking solution" shall mean a substance used during hydraulic fracturing which is injected into rock formations surrounding oil or gas deposits in order to expand the rock and facilitate the extraction of oil or gas; and
b. "hydraulic fracturing" shall mean a process used to create fractures that extend from a borehole into rock formations to increase or restore the rate at which oil or gas may be produced from a well.
2. On and after the effective date of this section, every person granted a well permit pursuant to section 23-0501 of this title shall, during hydraulic fracturing, use only fracking solution composed of natural and organic materials. No fracking solution containing diesel, benzene, ethibenzene, toluene, xylene, or any other substance determined by the commissioner to be toxic shall be used during hydraulic fracturing on or after such date.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08348-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.