Hearing set on Louisiana’s proposed fracking regulation

The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources is considering a new regulation requiring operators to disclose information about the water used in hydraulic fracturing. Under the proposed rule, operators would have to disclose the volume of hydraulic fracturing fluid used, the types of additives used, the trade name and supplier of each additive, and a list of the chemical compounds contained in the additives, among other information. If the chemical compound is a trade secret, the operator would be required to identify the chemical family to which the compound belongs. The proposed rule addresses one of the recommendations the State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulations made in a report evaluating Louisiana’s regulation of hydraulic fracturing. STRONGER gave Louisiana high marks but recommended that the state implement some additional measures, including a requirement that operators identify the composition of fracking fluids. “The Louisiana hydraulic fracturing program is, overall, well managed, professional and meeting its program objectives,” says Lori Wrotenbery, director of the Oil and Gas Conservation Division of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, who served as chairman of the review team. “We believe several aspects of the Office of Conservation and its operations merit special recognition.” DNR’s Office of Conservation based the proposed regulation in part on mandatory disclosure regulations enacted in Arkansas and Texas. A public hearing on the proposed Louisiana regulation is scheduled for Aug. 30 in the LaBelle Hearing Room of the LaSalle Building. For the rest of 10/12 Corridor Weekly, click here.