ANCHORAGE — A commission overseeing oil and gas drilling in Alaska is proposing a 10-day public comment period on applications for hydraulic fracturing projects.
The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s announcement comes after an environmental group’s request for a 30-day comment period and a public hearing when companies apply for fracking permits, Alaska’s Energy Desk reported Thursday.
The group, Cook Inletkeeper, says current fracking regulations don’t give the public adequate opportunity to voice their opinions on matters that could potentially have negative environmental impacts.
Bob Shavelson, executive director for Cook Inletkeeper, said the commission’s new proposal still does not go far enough.
“It’s a good step forward but it’s still a fairly tepid effort to provide real notice and comment opportunities for Alaskans to look at fracking applications that could potentially affect groundwater and salmon streams,” Shavelson said.
Joshua Kindred with the Alaska Oil and Gas Association said the proposed regulation would be burdensome.
“This is unnecessary and it doesn’t actually provide remedies. All it does is provide delays and increased costs,” Kindred said.
During fracking, companies pump industrial fluids underground to release oil and gas trapped in rock formations. Harmful chemicals in those fluids can threaten water supplies.
A hearing on the commission’s proposal is scheduled for March 23.
