Source: http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/federal-loopholes.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 01:11:10+00:00

Document:
1) Fracking is exempt from key federal environmental regulations. The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 contained a provision that has come to be known as the "Halliburton Loophole," an exemption for gas drilling and extraction from requirements in the underground injection control (UIC) program of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Other exemptions are also present in the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
emissions equal to a major source shall be regulated as such. 42 U.S.C. § 7412(a)(1).
similar units...." 42 U.S.C. § 7412(n)(4)(A).
public health." 42 U.S.C. § 7412(n)(4)(B).
§ 112(b)(1) List of HAPs. Regulated HAPs -- Designated by Congress in the 1990 amendments to the CAA.
in some circumstances (see NRDC report "Drilling Down" 11-13 (2007)).
transfer facilities. 42 U.S.C. § 7469(1).
large facilities are major sources.
NAAQS attainment. 42 U.S.C. § 7503(a)(1)(A).
& Regulatory Constraints to Natural Gas Production" 84-85 (2004)).
U.S. oil wells and account for 18% of U.S. crude production. 42 U.S.C. § 7511.
areas having a population of 350,000 or more, or (2) in severe or extreme nonattainment areas.
storm and sewer collection and treatment systems.
facilities" so long as the runoff is not contaminated with any raw material, byproduct, or waste.
whether or not such field activities or operations may be considered to be construction activities.
Fed. Reg. 33,628 (Jan. 6, 2006).
§ 502(2)(B) Definition of 'Pollutant' -- discharge of pollutants requires a NPDES permit.
result in the degradation of ground or surface water resources. 33 U.S.C. § 1362(2)(B).
300h(d)(2)). 42 U.S.C. § 300h(b)(2).
endangered by such injection. 42 U.S.C. § 300h(b)(2).
Underground Injection Defined -- the term "underground injection" means the subsurface emplacement of fluids by well injection. 42 U.S.C. § 300h(d)(1).
to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities. 42 U.S.C. § 300h(d)(1)(B).
types of wells, imposing stricter regulations on wells used to inject RCRA-classified hazardous materials.
fewer regulatory controls, instead of limiting injection to strictly regulated Class I wells.
production were exempted from RCRA pending recommendations from EPA to Congress.
53 Fed. Reg. 25,445 (1988). EPA's final regulation on exemption of exploration, development and production wastes.
wellhead. See the final regulations for a list of exempt and non-exempt wastes.
58 Fed. Reg. 15,284 (1993). EPA clarifications of the exemption rules.
answer to either question is yes, the waste is most likely considered exempt."
regulations 42 U.S.C. § 6926.
federal law and uses state standards to classify hazardous wastes.
commercial, mining, and agricultural operations…." 42 U.S.C. § 6903(27). Hazardous wastes are a subset of solid wastes.
exploration and production wastes under the less stringent Subtitle D regulations on solid wastes.
materials may be liable for cleanup under this standard if the exempt wastes are considered solid wastes.
EPA, RCRA Exemptions 21-22 (2002).
1980 Establishes a governmental response to releases of hazardous substances into the environment and holds polluting industries liable for cleanup costs. But natural gas and oil are not considered hazardous under this law, making it more difficult for the E.P.A. to hold some oil and gas operations liable.
whose release or threatened release is a prerequisite for CERCLA liability.
include natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas usable for fuel...."
Exclusion, 15 J. Energy Nat. Resources & Envtl. L. 41, 70-71 (1995).
Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), Toxic Release Inventory (TRI).
development of oil or gas." 42 U.S.C. § 15924(a).
NEPA review as any number of individual wells.
helpful, or there are extraordinary circumstances involved in the application. 516 DM 11.9(B).

References: § 7412
 § 7412
 § 7412

§ 112
 § 7469
 § 7503
 § 7511

§ 502
 § 1362
 § 300
 § 300
 § 300
 § 300
 § 6926
 § 6903
 § 15924