Environmental

Rep. Jan Schakowsky Statement on Introduction of the SHARED Act


WASHINGTON, DC–(ENEWSPF)—March 19, 2015. Today, Rep. Jan Schakowsky introduced the Safe Hydration is an American Right in Energy Development (SHARED) Act.  Part of the “Frack Pack” of bills to improve safeguards against the dangers of hydraulic fracturing, the legislation would require testing and reporting of water contamination near hydraulic fracturing sites.  The SHARED Act is supported by a number of the nation’s leading public health and environmental organizations, including Clean Air Task Force, Clean Water Action, Earthjustice, Earthworks, Environment America, Food and Water Watch, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, and WildEarth Guardians. Rep. Schakowsky released the following statement on the introduction:

“Hydraulic fracturing poses a severe threat to our water resources.  Over the past decade, there have been dozens of confirmed cases of contaminated drinking water in which hydraulic fracturing is the suspected cause. 

Hydraulic fracturing operators and the oil and gas industries insist that fracking is safe, and does not cause water contamination.  The SHARED Act says ‘prove it.’

A few years ago, Lily, a 4th grader in my Congressional District, wrote me to urge better safeguards for water sources near drilling sites, and I got the opportunity to meet with her about the issue.  This bill is the brainchild of that meeting.

The SHARED Act says that if you’re going to frack, you need to test and report on the impacts of that activity on water quality. 

The bill would require testing of water sources near hydraulic fracturing operations and the public disclosure of the results of that testing.

It’s simple, straightforward, and it would make sure that families like Lily’s will know whether their water is safe to drink and use.  I will work to do all that I can to advance this legislation and protect our precious water sources.”

Source: Schakowsky.house.gov


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