January 2014
At Illinois Department of Natural Resources public hearings across the state, Illinois Sierra members commented on concerns about the proposed high pressure horizontal fracturing regulations draft Administrative Rules, which are to be based on the Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act passed at the end of the May 2013 Illinois Legislative session. Written comments on the draft regulations had a deadline of January 3rd. The Illinois Chapter Sierra Club and numerous other groups have countered parts of the proposed rules that are weak and not what the legislation passed on fracking regulations specified.
The legisative act on fracking regulations is a regulatory floor, and in no way makes high-volume hydraulic fracturing safe. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources drafted rules for interpreting and implementing provisions of the statute passed by the legislature. Unfortunately, the rules developed do not reflect the law that was passed. Until the regulations are strengthened it will not provide the baseline protections that must be in place. Illinois Chapter Sierra Club has collected hundreds of comments about the rules online and has sent comments to the state for the January 3, 2014 deadline.