Bill > H0464

This bill, concerning hydraulic fracturing for natural gas and oil production in Vermont, establishes a prohibition on the practice of hydraulic fracturing, which involves pumping fluid into the ground to create fractures in rock for oil or gas recovery, and also prohibits the collection, storage, or treatment of wastewater generated from this process. The bill defines key terms like "gas," "oil," "oil and gas," "fluid," and "hydraulic fracturing" to clarify the scope of the prohibition. It also amends existing laws to explicitly forbid the discharge of waste from hydraulic fracturing into pollution abatement facilities and requires the Agency of Natural Resources to submit reports by January 15, 2015, and January 15, 2016, recommending how hydraulic fracturing should be regulated if the prohibition is ever lifted, and assessing its environmental and public health impacts, respectively, while also mandating the agency to update rules for underground injection wells to prevent endangerment of drinking water sources.