North Carolina criminalizes disclosure of fracking chemical contents

[MrColin]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/22/us-usa-fracking-secrets-idUSBREA4L0YC20140522

They are calling it the "Energy Modernization Act."

I think you'll be able to talk about it when its in the ground water though.

psst, benzine.

 

[JulesMaximus]

How is this in ANY WAY in the best interests of the people?

 

[Newell Steamer]

It's OK, because we all know corporations are always looking out for the people and they will ensure none of those chemicals taint the drinking water.

Also, they are professionals. Surely they have enough experience and studies supporting the need to dump millions of gallons of chemicals and water into the ground won't cause harm to anyone, ever!

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's OK, because we all know corporations are always looking out for the people and they will ensure none of those chemicals taint the drinking water.

Also, they are professionals. Surely they have enough experience and studies supporting the need to dump millions of gallons of chemicals and water into the ground won't cause harm to anyone, ever!

Just make sure they aren't fracking in the CEO's back yard.

 

[dank69]

repost

 

[Theb]

What you don't know can't hurt you.

 

[QuantumPion]

The legislation, proposed by three Republican state senators and passed by a vote of 35-12, aims to protect trade secrets about fluids used to extract oil or gas from wells using fracking, which blasts sand, water and chemicals deep beneath the earth's surface.


Under the "Energy Modernization Act," a state geologist would be the custodian of confidential information about fracking fluids. The information can be given to healthcare providers, the public safety department or the fire chief in case of an emergency.


The Senate also added a requirement for the geologist to report any banned chemicals found in the fracking fluids to the state Mining and Energy Commission.


The U.S. Energy Information Administration says North Carolina has no oil or natural gas production. The bill's backers say the regulations will help attract resource development and jobs.


Oil and gas producers say fracking does not pollute water and many voluntarily, or following state laws, disclose the chemicals they use in FracFocus, an online national registry.


Oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Inc has said it will disclose the fracking chemicals it uses, potentially prompting other companies to follow suit.


Companies are mostly concerned about protecting the specific formulas they use in individual wells.

Sounds pretty reasonable to me.

 

[trenchfoot]

Proprietary rights vs. the right to have safe drinking water. Obviously, both have legal standing.

The problem arises when proprietary rights are used as an escape clause against lawsuits and assignment of culpability. We've seen this trick being used time after time, up to and including the tacit approval of this practice by corrupted gov't agencies that are being populated with those very folks said agency is tasked with monitoring for compliance.

Big monied interests always seem to have that kind of irresistible allure and the compelling fragrance of legal tender that our politicians inevitably fall prey to.

 

[werepossum]

Proprietary rights vs. the right to have safe drinking water. Obviously, both have legal standing.

The problem arises when proprietary rights are used as an escape clause against lawsuits and assignment of culpability. We've seen this trick being used time after time, up to and including the tacit approval of this practice by corrupted gov't agencies that are being populated with those very folks said agency is tasked with monitoring for compliance.

Big monied interests always seem to have that kind of irresistible allure and the compelling fragrance of legal tender that our politicians inevitably fall prey to.

I think proprietary rights end when the owner loses custody. I fully support the frackers' right to keep secret their recipes right up to the point they inject them into the ground, because that's when they enter the ground water.

Well, actually even that isn't completely true. I think they should be required to submit a complete report of proposed procedures, including all chemicals, for an ecological study before receiving approval. Besides the straightforward hazards, there may well be problems if and when one company's chemical cocktail mixes with a second company's chemical cocktail, potentially forming new chemical compounds which may be more toxic than either of the precursors.