Prohibits the use of wastewater from high-volume hydraulic fracturing for road and land spreading, for dust control or de-icing.
Summary
This bill amends the Environmental Conservation Law to prohibit the use of wastewater associated with high-volume hydraulic fracturing for road spreading or land spreading. The ban applies to flowback fluid, production brine, and produced water generated during natural gas production using HVHF. The bill specifically bars using these fluids for dust control, de-icing, or any land spreading purpose.
The measure also adds definitions to state law for "flowback fluid," "high-volume hydraulic fracturing," and "production brine" or "produced water" so the prohibition is tied to clearly identified oil and gas wastewater streams. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would create a new prohibition in New York environmental law against applying wastewater from high-volume hydraulic fracturing on roads or land. It would affect oil and gas operators, wastewater handlers, and any local governments or contractors that might otherwise use such fluids for dust suppression or winter road treatment. The bill would also expand statutory definitions in the Environmental Conservation Law to support enforcement and clarify the scope of the ban.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as an environmental protection and public health safeguard, with no recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials. The sponsorship and caption suggest support from lawmakers concerned about the environmental risks of spreading fracking wastewater. Because there are no transcripts or vote records here, there is no documented opposition or formal sentiment in the available record.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely whether wastewater from high-volume hydraulic fracturing should be treated as a usable road-treatment or dust-control resource versus a material that poses environmental or health risks when spread on roads or land. Supporters would likely emphasize contamination concerns, while opponents may argue the practice offers a low-cost disposal or maintenance option for municipalities and operators. No specific objections or named opponents appear in the provided materials.
Protecting American Energy Production Act This bill prohibits the President from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing unless Congress authorizes the moratorium. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that states should maintain primacy for the regulation of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on state and private lands. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the formation.
In general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in residual waste, providing for prohibition on road spreading and land application of oil and gas wastewater.