Bill > S478

This bill proposes a 10-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, a process used to extract oil and gas from the ground. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It amends existing laws to include "hydraulic fracturing fluid" as a type of wastewater effluent that must be regulated. 2. It grants the Department of Environmental Protection the authority to enforce restrictions on drilling, waste treatment and disposal, and mining activities that are enacted to protect the water quality and natural resources of the Commonwealth. 3. It prohibits the collection, storage, treatment, or disposal of wastewater, solids, or other byproducts from hydraulic fracturing during the 10-year moratorium period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2027. The bill aims to address environmental concerns related to hydraulic fracturing and protect the water resources and natural environment of Massachusetts during the moratorium period.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S478