I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1951 
To prohibit the use of hydraulic fracturing or acid well stimulation treatment 
in the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Region until the Secretary of 
the Interior prepares an environmental impact statement and conducts 
a study with respect to such practices, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 22, 2015 
Mrs. CAPPS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To prohibit the use of hydraulic fracturing or acid well 
stimulation treatment in the Pacific Outer Continental 
Shelf Region until the Secretary of the Interior prepares 
an environmental impact statement and conducts a study 
with respect to such practices, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Offshore Fracking 
Transparency and Review Act of 2015’’. 
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SEC. 2. MORATORIUM ON OFFSHORE FRACTURING AND 
ACID WELL STIMULATION TREATMENT. 
Notwithstanding the terms of any lease or permit 
issued before the date of the enactment of this Act, no 
person may engage in hydraulic fracturing or acid well 
stimulation treatment in the Pacific Outer Continental 
Shelf Region until the Secretary of the Interior has pub-
lished a report under section 3 and issued a final environ-
mental impact statement under section 4. 
SEC. 3. STUDY OF CONDUCT AND IMPACTS OF HYDRAULIC 
FRACTURING AND ACID WELL STIMULATION 
IN THE PACIFIC OCS REGION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To ensure the relevant agencies’ 
data incorporate the latest science and practices of the oil 
and gas industry, the Secretary of the Interior shall con-
duct a study of the conduct and impacts of hydraulic frac-
turing and acid well stimulation treatments in the Pacific 
Outer Continental Shelf Region. 
(b) INCLUDED TOPICS.—The study shall include, but 
shall not be limited to— 
(1) preparation of a descriptive inventory of all 
chemicals used in offshore oil and gas development 
and production activities in the Pacific Outer Conti-
nental Shelf Region, including chemicals used in hy-
draulic fracturing and acid well stimulation treat-
ments; 
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(2) the volumes of chemicals used and disposed 
of in such activities; 
(3) the risks of a spill of such chemicals; 
(4) an analysis of the methods by which such 
chemicals enter the environment during hydraulic 
fracturing and acid well stimulation treatments; 
(5) a quantification, to the extent possible, of 
the amount of such chemicals that enter the environ-
ment during hydraulic fracturing and acid well stim-
ulation treatments; and 
(6) any other related matters the Secretary de-
termines necessary. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to Congress and publish a report on the study con-
ducted under this section. 
SEC. 4. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT. 
Not later than 18 months after the issuance of the 
report under section 3, the Secretary of the Interior shall, 
in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency 
and in consultation with appropriate State agencies, issue 
an environmental impact statement under section 102 of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4332) regarding the impacts on the marine environment 
and public health of offshore hydraulic fracturing and acid 
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well stimulation treatments conducted in the Pacific Outer 
Continental Shelf Region. 
SEC. 5. PUBLIC NOTICE. 
The Secretary shall notify all relevant State and local 
regulatory agencies and publish a notice in the Federal 
Register— 
(1) within 30 days after receiving any applica-
tion for a permit that would allow the conduct of 
offshore hydraulic fracturing or an acid well stimula-
tion treatment in the Pacific Outer Continental 
Shelf Region; and 
(2) within 30 days after the conduct of offshore 
hydraulic fracturing or acid well stimulation treat-
ment in such region under a permit or other author-
ization issued by the Secretary. 
SEC. 6. COMPILATION AND DISCLOSURE OF ACTIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior shall 
compile and maintain a list of all offshore hydraulic frac-
turing and acid well stimulation treatments that have 
taken place, or that take place after the enactment of this 
Act, in the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Region. 
(b) INCLUDED INFORMATION.—For each instance of 
offshore hydraulic fracturing or an acid well stimulation 
treatment, the Secretary shall include on the list— 
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hydraulic fracturing treatments or other 
well stimulation treatments; 
(ii) acid treatments conducted at pres-
sures lower than the applied pressure nec-
essary to fracture the underground geo-
logic formation (commonly referred to as 
acid matrix stimulation treatments); and 
(iii) acid fracturing treatments. 
Æ 
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