Fracking Bill Called Redundant
Air Date:02/09/2012
The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee killed a bill dealing with the process known as fracking.
The procedure involves injecting high pressure water or chemicals into an oil or natural gas well to fracture the ground below and extract more resources. Proponents of the measure claim the process is a safe and very effective means of extending South Dakota's natural resources.
They want the measure to send a message to Federal regulators.
Opponents say the process of fracking can destroy drinking water. They argue that high pressure fracturing of the ground can break open aquifers and extraction chemicals like diesel fuel can then get in and contaminate the water sources.
Republican Representative Phil Jensen of Rapid City supports the legislation. He says that diesel fuel can't hurt when extracting compounds like crude oil and natural gas that are already underground.
"As long as a well bore is properly cased to protect its shallow bit of ground water from pollution how can adding a tiny bit of diesel to that chemical combo be objectionable. If we follow environmentalists logic then oil companies should be praised for sucking all of those dangerous hydrocarbons out of the ground right," says Jensen
Opponents argue that the measure is redundant because process of fracking is already legal in South Dakota.
The committee agreed and killed the measure.
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