Pitch
The Bush Administration removal of regualtory authority over the use of fracking to extract natural gas no means exist to assess process.
Description
Summary
The process of extracting gas using the process known as fracking needs to be regulated once again under the auspices of federal legislation. Only by that means can science be used and applied to address the effect on climate change, and immediate threats to the environment and human health. Thus, my proposal is to have UCS initiate political action with other environmental groups in concert with federal legislators to make all fracking activities subject to federal laws and environmental regulation. The law would require a national moratorium on all fracking activities pending scientific evaluation and assessment. My position is that, as the science no does not exist to validate the activity, prevention of dire consequences pending adequate science is the most important action necessary. Political action before research is paramount.
Category of the action
Adaptation
What actions do you propose?
Federal legislation written and sponsored by the USC/environmental groups in concert with federal legislators/agencies to halt all fracking activities in the United States pending the establishment of sufficient scientific research to determine if the process can be implemented to protect global and local environmental health.
Who will take these actions?
Environmental groups, federal legislators and federal agencies.
Where will these actions be taken?
See item entitled "What actions do you propose?" Plus, media coverage of the need for the legislation proposed.
What are other key benefits?
Stopping the fracking process everywhere now. As scientists we believe that information will change how government, industry, people act. Information (monitoring, assessment, research) will influence how and if fracking is used. Maybe for some, but no, we cannot study this now and hope for political action or voluntary industry complicance. If the federal authority to regulate fracking had not been removed from the law, this mess would not exist.
What are the proposal’s costs?
The time of federal legislators, agency representatives and USC staff to write proposed legislation and lobby for passage. Optional media coverage could be expensive, unless covered by major news networks and press.
Time line
Now until legislation passed. My guess roughly two months.
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