Legis Daily

Fracking Ban Act

USA116th CongressS-3247| Senate 
| Updated: 1/28/2020
Bernard Sanders

Bernard Sanders

Independent Senator

Vermont

Cosponsors (1)
Jeff Merkley (Democratic)

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Fracking Ban Act This bill phases out hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the geological formation. The bill prohibits federal agencies from issuing permits for the expansion of fracking or fracked oil and natural gas infrastructure, including infrastructure intended to extract, transport, or burn natural gas or oil. In addition, the bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to complete a survey of all oil and natural gas wells to identify the wells where fracking is, or has been, used. The survey must include a variety of data, including data on the proximity of fracking operations to inhabited structures (e.g., homes or schools). Beginning on February 1, 2021, the bill revokes permits for wells where fracking is, or has been, used within 2,500 feet of inhabited structures. The bill bans all fracking on onshore and offshore land by 2025. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Labor to establish a Just Transition Committee to make recommendations on ensuring the health and safety of individuals residing in, and the prosperity of, natural gas- and oil-producing regions during the phaseout of fracking.
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Timeline
Jan 28, 2020
Introduced in Senate
Jan 28, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Feb 21, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-5857
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
  • January 28, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 28, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • February 21, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-5857
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Environmental Protection

Related Bills

  • HR 116-5857: Fracking Ban Act
AgingAir qualityClimate change and greenhouse gasesCongressional oversightDepartment of LaborDisability and paralysisElectric power generation and transmissionEnergy storage, supplies, demandEnvironmental healthExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment studies and investigationsHousing supply and affordabilityLicensing and registrationsOil and gasPipelinesPoverty and welfare assistanceRacial and ethnic relationsRural conditions and developmentWater quality

Fracking Ban Act

USA116th CongressS-3247| Senate 
| Updated: 1/28/2020
Fracking Ban Act This bill phases out hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the geological formation. The bill prohibits federal agencies from issuing permits for the expansion of fracking or fracked oil and natural gas infrastructure, including infrastructure intended to extract, transport, or burn natural gas or oil. In addition, the bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to complete a survey of all oil and natural gas wells to identify the wells where fracking is, or has been, used. The survey must include a variety of data, including data on the proximity of fracking operations to inhabited structures (e.g., homes or schools). Beginning on February 1, 2021, the bill revokes permits for wells where fracking is, or has been, used within 2,500 feet of inhabited structures. The bill bans all fracking on onshore and offshore land by 2025. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Labor to establish a Just Transition Committee to make recommendations on ensuring the health and safety of individuals residing in, and the prosperity of, natural gas- and oil-producing regions during the phaseout of fracking.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jan 28, 2020
Introduced in Senate
Jan 28, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Feb 21, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-5857
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
  • January 28, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 28, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • February 21, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-5857
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Bernard Sanders

Bernard Sanders

Independent Senator

Vermont

Cosponsors (1)
Jeff Merkley (Democratic)

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Environmental Protection

Related Bills

  • HR 116-5857: Fracking Ban Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AgingAir qualityClimate change and greenhouse gasesCongressional oversightDepartment of LaborDisability and paralysisElectric power generation and transmissionEnergy storage, supplies, demandEnvironmental healthExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment studies and investigationsHousing supply and affordabilityLicensing and registrationsOil and gasPipelinesPoverty and welfare assistanceRacial and ethnic relationsRural conditions and developmentWater quality