The explosive development of US shale gas resources in recent years has led to calls for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing, the well stimulation technique that has played a huge role in unlocking unconventional gas resources around the country. In the absence of a clear federal directive, however, several state governments and energy companies are taking the initiative to ease growing fears that the technique may threaten the quality of drinking water. As of September, Wyoming became the first state to require natural gas producers to disclose their fracturing fluids as part of a new set of drilling regulations.
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