WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo., released the following statements regarding the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed rules governing hydraulic fracturing operations on federal lands:

“While I am still reviewing the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed rules, I generally favor regulating hydraulic fracturing through state governments, which is how it had been done up until now,” said Enzi.  “The people in state government are the same people who live and work in the areas being regulated.  They take all the interests of the affected areas to heart because they have the same interests. Clean water is essential and so is energy. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”

“Wyoming has led the way in providing information about hydraulic fracturing operations on private, state, and federal lands,” said Barrasso.  “But now, Washington is rolling out more red tape that will duplicate Wyoming’s regulations.  Each layer of unnecessary bureaucracy will  slow down American oil and natural gas production and discourage investment and job creation in the West. The Obama Administration should respect Wyoming’s responsible leadership and effective disclosure regulations – not mandate more red tape.”

Background:

In June of 2010, the State of Wyoming adopted the nation’s first rules governing well stimulation.  Effective as of September 15, 2010, the regulations address wellbore integrity and flowback water and require the disclosure of hydraulic fracturing fluids.  The State of Wyoming’s regulations apply to private and state lands as well as federal public lands within Wyoming. 

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