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Senate adopts resolution urging Congress to preserve hydraulic-fracturing exemption
Summary
The Utah Senate unanimously approved a joint resolution urging Congress to maintain the hydraulic-fracturing exemption in federal drinking-water law, with sponsor Sen. Hinkins saying the practice has operated for decades without documented drinking-water contamination.
The Utah Senate on the floor unanimously approved Senate Joint Resolution 17, a legislative statement urging Congress to preserve an exemption for hydraulic fracturing in the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Sponsor Senator Hinkins introduced the resolution and framed it as support for keeping the federal exemption in place. "Hydraulic fracturing has been going on for over 60 years without any documented cases of contamination of drinking water," he said during his remarks, adding that the technique is typically performed more than 1,800 feet below the surface in the state.
The resolution, as explained by Hinkins, says the practice enhances oil and gas extraction and has been used in other contexts such as degasifying coal seams to improve mine safety. He distributed a handout on the topic and offered to take questions from colleagues on the floor.
Senators voted by voice; the presiding officer directed the clerk to record a unanimous vote in favor. The resolution passed and will be sent to the House for its consideration.
Why it matters: The resolution expresses the Utah Legislature's formal position ahead of possible federal action on hydraulic-fracturing regulation. While the resolution urges Congress to refrain from removing the exemption, it does not change state law and carries no regulatory force.
The chamber moved on to other business after passage; no floor amendments to the resolution were recorded.
