House Republicans Appear Split Over EPA's Pending Fracking Study

摘要

House Republicans appear to be split over EPA's pending study on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water, with GOP lawmakers on the Science Committee questioning the need for the study while House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) is backing the effort.Such divisions may make it difficult for House lawmakers to stymie the agency's study should they seek to do so in the upcoming fiscal year 2012 appropriations cycle.At a May 11 hearing before the science panel, GOP lawmakers attacked the agency's study pointing to Department of Energy (DOE) criticisms that the study will not produce actual risk estimates, and challenging the agency to justify the study in light of statements from state regulators that the gas drilling practice does not threaten drinking water sources.