US to require frac chemical disclosures

Disclosure: US to require companies to list chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing

The US government will require natural gas drillers to disclose which chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing on public lands, according to draft rules crafted by the Interior Department.



President Barack Obama pledged in the State of the Union address last week that the government would develop a road map for responsible natural gas production and roll out new rules to ensure drillers protect the environment.

Companies would be required to disclose the "complete chemical makeup of all materials used" in fracking fluids under the Interior Department's draft rules, a copy of which was seen by Reuters.

The industry objected to any rule that would force drillers to reveal the chemicals used in fracking. Fracking has allowed companies to tap…

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