As if you needed another reason to hate ExxonMobil and ALEC.....

[marmar]

ALEC and ExxonMobil Push Loopholes in Fracking Chemical Disclosure Rules

by Cora Currier
ProPublica, April 24, 2012, 2:06 p.m.


One of the key controversies about fracking is the chemical makeup of the fluid that is pumped deep into the ground to break apart rock and release natural gas. Some companies have been reluctant to disclose what's in their fracking fluid. Scientists and environmental advocates argue that, without knowing its precise composition, they can't thoroughly investigate complaints of contamination.

Disclosure requirements vary considerably from state to state, as ProPublica recently charted. In many cases, the rules have been limited by a "trade secrets" provision under which companies can claim that a proprietary chemical doesn't have to be disclosed to regulators or the public.

One apparent proponent of the trade secrets caveat? The American Legislative Exchange Council, better known as ALEC, a nonprofit group that brings together politicians and corporations to draft and promote conservative, business-friendly legislation. ALEC has been in the spotlight recently because of its support of controversial laws like Florida's "Stand Your Ground" provision.

This weekend, as part of a story on ALEC's political activity, The New York Times noted that the group recently adopted "model legislation" on fracking chemical disclosure, based on a bill passed in Texas last year. According to The Times, the model bill was "sponsored within ALEC" by ExxonMobil, which runs a major oil and gas operation through its subsidiary, XTO Energy. The advocacy group Common Cause, which provided the documents on ALEC's lobbying efforts to The Times, describes model legislation, in many cases identifying by name the company that proposed it to ALEC's task forces. ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.propublica.org/article/alec-and-exxonmobil-push-loopholes-in-fracking-chemical-disclosure-rules

[annabanana]

1. We have to keep up the pressure on this crowd. Rachel's show

I think on Monday, Showed that the two initiatives that ALEC was abandoning (the "stand your ground" legislation, and the "voter ID" legislation) was picked up by the snakes that had run an Abramoff gambling interests scandal . .

They are as slippery as a palmful of mercury. And more dangerous.