Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) has signed on as an original cosponsor of H.R. 2825, the Closing Loopholes and Ending Arbitrary and Needless Evasion of Regulations Act (CLEANER Act) of 2013.

Since 1980, waste materials from the production and development of oil and natural gas have been exempt from the legal obligation to dispose of these materials in a safe way. This exemption covers hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”), an increasingly common process to access natural gas by injecting chemicals, fluids, and large amounts of water in the ground at very high pressure. The CLEANER Act would remove the exemption given to oil and gas companies and require them to comply with existing standards for safely disposing of waste.

It is important that the government establish safeguards to protect public health and the environment. Therefore, these loopholes must be closed and all energy companies must meet the same obligations.

To read more about H.R. 2825, click here.