Pennsylvania act 13 is a law that was passed that would limit the area that a company or individual would embark in Hydraulic fracturing. It provides for the lack of issuance of a license to any establishment that would wish to employ Hydraulic fracturing in the environment that is close to the living environment of the citizens. This is because the process of hydraulic faulting creates spaces in the soil that cause the land to sip in elements that pollutes the water that is used by the people. This law is a revision of the oil and gas act of 1984. According to the new law, in case one is found to have done the drilling unlawfully there are well fees to be paid. This law also takes into mind the need to have environmental regulations in this arm of the energy industry. This environmental aspect of the law mainly targets unconventional wells. These wells have been known to use hydraulic fracture fluids that pollute the water basins that are below the surface. The law forces these wells to share information regarding the chemical components of these fluids or face penalties that would force these companies to go parking.
A comparison to the Vermont's May 2012 legislation and the New York State decision on local control of fracturing shows a big similarity between the laws. They all target the unconventional wells that are prone to breaking the set rules and standards that govern this industry. Without these laws, probably all the water in areas that are near such well would be contaminated with chemicals and would not be ready for drinking. This means that the general population would end up suffering due to the effects of using water contaminated in a process that could have been avoided
In France, a law was passed that would totally ban the fracturing process. Despite the fact that the process is widely used in the USA, it is a fact that the French are completely opposed to this process for the production of gas and oil for sale. The complete ban came around after the French government concluded that this process is risky to both its population’s heath and the environment. This law like similar other laws enacted in many other oil and gas producing countries in Europe limits the Hydraulic faulting process. The pressurized liquids that are used in the process contaminate the drinking water that is normally used by the locals. This leads to diseases and an increase in morbidity rate.
In an executive order provided for by the President of the USA, Barrack Obama, the president cited some of the reasons as to why he supported the safe and responsible production of Natural gas and related resources within the USA. He states that in the year 2011, natural gas alone provided for 25% of the total energy consumption in the USA.
This sector of the energy industry provided for many jobs and permanent employment, not to mention the revenue. As a result, banning a process that leads to such advantages is not acceptable. Instead, laws governing the production of such resources are more feasible. This will be in line with the environmental provisions that ensure the environment is taken care of in the process of producing the gas. The government pledged to use its own resources to ensure that this happens.
References
French Government ‘Totally Opposed’ to Fracking, Batho Says – Bloomberg Retrieved November 21, 2012, from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-24/french-government-totally-opposed-to-fracking-batho-says-1-.html
Nikas, G. K. (January 01, 2010). Eighty years of research on hydraulic reciprocating seals: review of tribological studies and related topics since the 1930s. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology, 224, 1, 1-23.
Pennsylvania Zoning Laws For Gas Drilling, Known As Act 13, Debated In State Supreme Court: Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 21, 2012, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/18/pennsylvania-gas-drilling-laws_n_1979334.html
United States., United States., United States., Jackson, D., Looney, B., Eddy-Dilek, C., Rhia, B. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). (2010). Independent Technical Review of the X-740 Groundwater Remedy, Portsmouth, Ohio: Technical Evaluation and Recommendations. Washington, D.C: United States. Dept. of Energy.
