Bill Summary
The "Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2025" aims to enhance the regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) by repealing its current exemption under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This legislation mandates that entities conducting hydraulic fracturing operations must disclose detailed information about the chemicals used in the process both prior to commencement and after completion of the operations. Specifically, they are required to provide a list of chemical constituents, their safety data, and the anticipated volumes used to state authorities and the public. In cases of medical emergencies, the act ensures that proprietary information about chemical formulas must be disclosed to medical personnel upon request. However, it also maintains that proprietary formulas themselves do not have to be publicly disclosed. Overall, the bill seeks to increase transparency and protect public health and safety regarding the use of chemicals in hydraulic fracturing.
Possible Impacts
The "Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2025" aims to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act by removing the exemption for hydraulic fracturing and imposing new disclosure requirements. Here are three examples of how this legislation could affect people:
1. **Increased Public Awareness of Chemical Use**: The legislation mandates that companies conducting hydraulic fracturing disclose a list of chemicals used in their operations both prior to and after the fracturing process. This increased transparency allows local communities to be more informed about the substances being injected underground, potentially leading to greater public engagement in discussions about environmental safety and health risks associated with hydraulic fracturing.
2. **Enhanced Health and Safety Protections**: In the event of a medical emergency, the law requires immediate disclosure of proprietary chemical formulas to healthcare providers. This provision ensures that first responders and medical professionals have access to critical information needed for effective treatment, thereby potentially improving health outcomes for individuals affected by chemical exposure. It underscores the importance of rapid access to information in emergencies, which can be life-saving.
3. **Regulatory Oversight and Compliance Burdens**: The legislation could lead to increased regulatory scrutiny of hydraulic fracturing operations, as companies will need to adhere to stricter disclosure requirements. This may impose additional compliance costs and administrative burdens on the industry, which could affect the economic viability of certain projects. Consequently, this might influence job availability and local economies that depend on oil and gas extraction, as companies may need to adjust their operational practices or face penalties for non-compliance.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6082 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6082
To repeal the exemption for hydraulic fracturing in the Safe Drinking
Water Act, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 18, 2025
Ms. DeGette (for herself, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Castor of Florida, Ms. Clarke
of New York, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms.
Tlaib, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Vargas, Ms. Norton, Mr. Khanna, Ms.
Meng, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Morelle, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mr. Casten,
Mr. Carson, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Sherman, and Ms. Simon) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To repeal the exemption for hydraulic fracturing in the Safe Drinking
Water Act, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Fracturing Responsibility and
Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. REGULATION OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING.
(a) Hydraulic Fracturing.--Section 1421(d)(1) of the Safe Drinking
Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300h(d)(1)) is amended by striking subparagraph
(B) and inserting the following:
``(B) includes the underground injection of fluids
or propping agents pursuant to hydraulic fracturing
operations related to oil, gas, or geothermal
production activities; but
``(C) excludes the underground injection of natural
gas for purposes of storage.''.
(b) Disclosure of Hydraulic Fracturing Chemicals; Medical
Emergencies; Proprietary Chemical Formulas.--Section 1421(b) of the
Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300h(b)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(4)(A) Regulations included under paragraph (1)(C) shall include
the following requirements:
``(i) A person conducting hydraulic fracturing operations
shall disclose to the State (or the Administrator if the
Administrator has primary enforcement responsibility in the
State)--
``(I) prior to the commencement of any hydraulic
fracturing operations at any lease area or portion
thereof, a list of chemicals intended for use in any
underground injection during such operations, including
identification of the chemical constituents of
mixtures, Chemical Abstracts Service numbers for each
chemical and constituent, material safety data sheets
when available, and the anticipated volume of each
chemical; and
``(II) not later than 30 days after the end of any
hydraulic fracturing operations, the list of chemicals
used in each underground injection during such
operations, including identification of the chemical
constituents of mixtures, Chemical Abstracts Service
numbers for each chemical and constituent, material
safety data sheets when available, and the volume of
each chemical used.
``(ii) The State or the Administrator, as applicable, shall
make the disclosure of chemical constituents referred to in
clause (i) available to the public, including by posting the
information on an appropriate internet website.
``(iii) Whenever the State or the Administrator, or a
treating physician or nurse, determines that a medical
emergency exists and the proprietary chemical formula of a
chemical used in hydraulic fracturing operations is necessary
for medical treatment, the person conducting the hydraulic
fracturing operations shall, upon request, immediately disclose
the proprietary chemical formulas or the specific chemical
identity of a trade secret chemical to the State, the
Administrator, or the treating physician or nurse, regardless
of whether a written statement of need or a confidentiality
agreement has been provided. The person conducting the
hydraulic fracturing operations may require a written statement
of need and a confidentiality agreement as soon thereafter as
circumstances permit.
``(B) Subparagraph (A)(i) and (A)(ii) do not authorize the State
(or the Administrator) to require the public disclosure of proprietary
chemical formulas.''.
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