Oppose HB 1678 & 1679, SB 1291 & 1292: Preventing Loopholes by the Oil and Gas Industry
Advocacy against bills creating a loophole in the Freedom of Information Act for fracking chemicals, potentially endangering public health and the environment. These bills threaten transparency and hinder emergency preparedness efforts.
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Preventing Loopholes by the Oil and Gas Industry: Oppose HB 1678 & 1679 (Robinson) Oppose SB 1291 & 1292 (Chafin) Emily Francis Southern Environmental Law Center
A Few Categories of Fracking Chemicals: A Few Categories of Fracking Chemicals: Aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., benzene) Aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., benzene)- - Adverse effects on the central nervous system, liver and kidneys; leukemia and respiratory damage Petroleum distillate products (e.g., kerosene) Petroleum distillate products (e.g., kerosene)- Central nervous system effects if ingested or inhaled Glycols Glycols- high exposure levels affect the kidneys and reproductive systems
VOGAs 2013 Request for Chemical Disclosure: VOGA s 2013 Request for Chemical Disclosure: This will ensure that all chemicals used for frac[k]ing by Virginia s natural gas and oil industries will be fully disclosed and available to the public.
What these bills do: What these bills do: They create a wholesale exemption (or big loophole) from the Freedom of Information Act for fracking chemicals. They would place trade secret information in a permanent black box that no citizen can access. This would happen without any consideration of risks to public health or the environment, and it flies in the face of industry s stated intent to be totally transparent.
Practical Implications: Practical Implications: If any one of these bills passes Localities, those responsible for emergency preparedness, and first responders could not access the information needed to prepare an emergency response they must wait until the emergency is happening. Landowners concerned about the chemicals used in fracking operations near their drinking water wells could not access the information.
Upcoming Committee Votes House General Laws on Tuesday afternoon: House General Laws on Tuesday afternoon: Gilbert (Chairman), Peace (Vice Chair), Albo, Wright, Anderson, Greason, Knight, LeMunyon, Helsel, Robinson, Yost, Hodges, Bell, Richard P., Minchew, Leftwich, Ward, Bulova, Carr, Torian, McQuinn, Hester, Aird House Agriculture on Wednesday morning: House Agriculture on Wednesday morning: Marshall, D.W. (Chairman), Poindexter (Vice Chair), Ware, Wright, Orrock, Pogge, Knight, Edmunds, Wilt, Morefield, Webert, Ransone, Fariss, Miller, Bloxom, Plum, Bulova, James, Torian, Keam, Lopez, Sullivan Senate General Laws, FOIA subcommittee Wednesday morning: Senate General Laws, FOIA subcommittee Wednesday morning: Locke (Chairman), Black, DeSteph, Dunnavant, Sturtevant, Surovell, McPike, Vogel
