Energy Future Coalition (EFC)

In May 2011, the Shale Gas Production Subcommittee of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Secretary of Energy Advisory Board began exploring safe and environmentally sound methods of extracting natural gas from shale rock formations using hydraulic fracturing (commonly referred to as “fracking”) techniques.  The Subcommittee released its 90-day Interim Report on August 18, 2011.

The Interim Report recommends improvements in:

• Availability of public information on shale gas operations;
• Communication between state and federal regulators;
• Standards to reduce the impact of fracking on air, water, land, and wildlife;
• Public disclosure of fracking fluid chemicals;
• Reduction of diesel engine use in the production process;
• Information sharing among natural gas developers; and
• Research and development of more effective fracking technologies.

To read the full report, click here.

A final report is expected on November 18, 2011.  More details on the U.S. Department of Energy’s work on shale gas development are available online at www.shalegas.energy.gov.

 

For comments from former Sen. Timothy E. Wirth, President of the UN Foundation and the Energy Future Coalition, on the need for leadership on natural gas and clean fuels, click here.