Federal Regulation

Federal regulations provide a broad regulatory
foundation for energy development in the United States,
including hydraulic fracturing. Key regulations governing
shale development include: Clean Water Act; Clean Air
Act; Safe Drinking Water Act; National Environmental
Policy Act; Resource Conservation and Recovery Act;
Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act;
Endangered Species Act and the Occupational Safety
and Health Act.

Federal land managers, such as the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS),
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have
some oversight of oil and gas activities on the lands they
manage. This includes conducting environmental impact
studies, scientific research to help with management
options and decisions, and enforcing environmental
protections.

The federal government should not
use direct or indirect means to limit the
innovations that have safely launched an
energy revolution in the United States
while reducing the environmental impacts
of energy production.