Supporters of fracking in Ohio have something to smile about after a bill designed to regulate the polarizing natural gas extraction process was passed by local legislature.

A vote of 73-19 in favor of the bill after hours of bi-partisan debate within the House of Representatives was an indication of the depth of political support for hydraulic fracturing in Ohio with many people in the region seeing the continued use of the process as a 21st century "gold rush."

The bill, which will now go for final Senate approval before arriving at the desk of Governor John Kasich, requires companies that engage in fracking to test water sources within 1,500 feet of any proposed wells and track wastewater that is injected into disposal wells. In addition any drilling mud additives, chemicals or fluids that are used in the process must be disclosed although the bill does provide a caveat to allow companies to decide for themselves whether to disclose any secret methods or formulae.

Kasich, whose administration set the ball rolling for improved fracking regulation some months ago, was pleased that agreement had been reached and was looking forward to signing the bill into law.

"We've accomplished something truly unprecedented," Kasich said. "We'll be better stewards of our environment because of it, and our kids and grandkids will thank us for it,"

The passage of Senate Bill 315 was not a smooth process, especially in view of the controversial nature of fracking. Neighboring states have all been considering the best way to deal with the increasingly popular (and potentially profitable) practice but lawmakers in Ohio believe that the bill addresses the concerns of local environmental groups while also dealing with the future regulation of the industry.

James Zehringer, director of the Ohio Natural Resources Department, spoke to Bloomberg following the passing of the bill by the House of Representatives.

"I don't think we'll ever make the environmental community completely happy," Zehringer admitted. "We're doing things that I think are in the right direction to keep the community safe, the environment safe and the people safe."

Environmentalists may feel that their concerns haven't been taken into consideration but fracking is here to stay with regulation a positive step forward in natural gas extraction. 

Posted on May 25th, 2012 under Industrial Uses