Report: Natural Gas Industry Spent Millions to Avoid Fracking Regulations

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/11/10-4

According to a new report by the nonpartison group Common Cause, the natural gas industry has pumped millions into Congress to avoid regulation of hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking."



Fracking is a controversial method of obtaining natural gas involving injecting a mix of sand, chemicals, and water into a well at high pressure. Questions have been raised about the possibility of polluting groundwater near fracking sites, and was documented in a 1987 EPA study.

The new report details that $747 million has been spent during a successful 10-year campaign. “Players in this industry have pumped cash into Congress in the same way they pump toxic chemicals into underground rock formations to free trapped gas,” said Common Cause President Bob Edgar.

Among the report's key findings:

From 2001 through June 2011, companies now engaged in fracking contributed $20.5 million to current members of Congress. Industry giving more than tripled from the 2001-02 election cycle, when $2 million was contributed, to the 2009-10 election cycle, when $6.8 million was contributed. These same companies spent $726 million on lobbying at the federal level from 2001 through September, 2011.

More at the link --

[libinnyandia]

1. money talks and the present Republicans all have the same

message: less regulation, less regulation, less regulation.

[nc4bo]

2. Wish I could be surprised.

:mad: