Fracking
Legislation | Documents/Reports | Links | Press Releases
At a time of record high gas prices and volatility in fuel sources, finding alternatives and achieving greater energy independence is of the utmost importance. Our future energy policy must be sustainable and must not harm America’s public and environmental health. I have concerns about the new method of natural gas extraction known as “fracking” and its impact on the environment. The public should be assured that proper safety measures are in place so that our watersheds are protected and not contaminated by toxic materials. The natural gas industry must address these concerns and federal and state regulations must keep pace with this fast growing industry.
For more than 15 years, I have battled "Big Oil and Gas" to fight for stronger audits and oversight. I have lead the fight against their attempts at double bookkeeping to cheat American taxpayers out of fair reimbursement for minerals and other resources extracted from federal and Tribal leased lands. On the issue of fracking, I have written to federal regulators with concerns about watershed safety, natural gas reserve estimates, and gas leases on government mortgaged properties (see copies of the letters in the Documents section below). In addition, I have urged my colleagues on the relevant House Committees of jurisdiction to hold hearings on these issues. I will continue to push for robust oversight and rigorous assessments in the natural gas industry.
Legislation
03/15/11 - Cosponsor of H.R. 1084, Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act [112th Congress]
Documents/Reports
11/03/2011 - Maloney Testimony submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation hearings on NYS hydrofracking rules
11/03/2011 - Question asked by Maloney of Acting Director Ed DeMarco, Federal Housing Finance Agency, in Capital Markets hearing to audit number of mortgages across the country have non-compliant leases
10/28/2011 - Wrote to Capital Markets Subcommittee asking for hearing on gas leases on properties mortgaged by Fannie and Freddie
09/15/2011 - CRS Memo on Government-Sponsored Enterprises and oil and gas leases
08/08/2011 -Response from Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy
08/03/2011 - Response from Securities and Exchange Commission
06/28/2011 -Letters to Securities and Exchange Commission regarding allegations that some natural gas reserve estimates have been overstated and Department of Energy with concerns about how the wastewater created during the extraction process is disposed of.
03/07/2011 - Wrote to Environmental Protection Agency asking it to look into contamination concerns in New York State
03/02/2011 - Wrote to Transportation & Infrastructure and Energy & Commerce urging them to hold hearings about natural gas contamination concerns
Links
01/09/2012 - "Gas Drilling Critics in New York Face a Divide Over Their Goal" New York Times (PDF)
More on Fracking
WASHINGTON, DC – Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) today sent letters requesting hearings to assess potential concerns with hydraulic fracturing of natural gas before relevant House Committees. They issued the following joint statement about the letters:
“We hope that both Committees will hold hearings to determine whether our drinking water is safe. If federal and state regulations have not kept pace with this growing industry, we need to know before it creates a public health concern. As Representatives from New York, we are especially concerned given that some of the wastewater from hydrofracking is being transported to public sewage plants in our state. By holding hearings, Congress, the industry, and the public would have a better understanding of wastewater treatment and what further Congressional action is needed.”