A committee in the Kansas House is considering legislation that would allow the state to write new rules regulating hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking. The process is used in oil and gas drilling. Fracking breaks up underground rock to release more gas and oil. Critics say it may pose environmental hazards, especially to ground water. Joe Spease (spees), with the Kansas Sierra Club, says he doesn’t oppose the process, but it needs to be done carefully.
The Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association, or KIOGA (ky-OH-guh), does not oppose the bill. But KIOGA President Edward Cross says regulators need to be careful they don’t over regulate the industry, because it provides jobs and economic development in Kansas. He says there’s never been a confirmed case of groundwater pollution from fracking.
Tune in later this hour, when we’ll have more on the fracking legislation.