U.S. Interior Department Releases Final Rule for Fracking Activities on Public and Tribal Lands

Address Well Integrity, Water Protection, Disclosure of Chemicals

The final standards were released today that regulate hydraulic fracturing on public and American Indian lands.

There are more than 100,000 oil and gas wells on federally managed lands. Of wells currently being drilled, over 90 percent use hydraulic fracturing. The rule applies only to development on public and tribal lands and includes a process so that states and tribes may request variances from provisions for which they have an equal or more protective regulation in place.

Key components of the rule, which will take effect in 90 days include the following requirements:

• Validation of well integrity and cement barriers between the wellbore and water zones through which the wellbore passes;
• Companies to publicly disclose chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing to the Bureau of Land Management through the website FracFocus, within 30 days of completing fracturing operations;
• Standards for interim storage of recovered waste fluids from hydraulic fracturing to mitigate risks to air, water and wildlife;
• Companies to submit detailed information on the geology, depth, and location of preexisting wells.

To view the final rule: http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wo/Communications_Directorate/public_affairs/news_release_attachments.Par.6134.File.dat/HF-Final-Agency-Draft.pdf