By Dennis Luna
DOGGR, the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources of California’s Department of Conservation, on December 18th released a “discussion draft” of regulations for hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”.
The discussion draft does not actually start the formal rulemaking process. It is intended to be a starting point for discussion by key stakeholders – industry, the environmental community, the general public and other regulatory officials. All this is in preparation for the formal process, which probably will begin in early 2013.
The “discussion draft” regulations include provisions for testing of wells before fracking begins; advance notification of planned fracking activity; monitoring of wells during and after fracking operations; disclosure of the materials used in fracking fluids; storage and handling of hydraulic fracturing fluids; and ways to balance the public’s desire for information with industry’s need to protect trade secrets.
Information about the process is on the DOGGR Home Page. The agency also has a page of information about hydraulic fracturing in California.
Documents issued by DOGGR to accompany the announcement include: