King Hall California Environmental Law & Policy Center Releases New Report on 'Fracking'

King Hall's California Environmental Law & Policy Center (CELPC) has released an important new report on one of California's most prominent environmental controversies: hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking."  The report, "Senate Bill 4: A Past and Future Look at Regulating Hydraulic Fracturing in California," was authored by CELPC Environmental Law Fellow Michael Murza '13 and CELPC Director Rick Frank '74.

Fracking refers to a set of technologies used by the oil and gas industry to increase production from underground oil and gas wells by injecting a combination of water, steam and chemicals.  The report summarizes the history of fracking in California, other portions of the U.S. and overseas; describes the debate over, passage and key features of California Senator Fran Pavley's SB 4, the landmark 2013 legislation establishing a first-ever comprehensive program to regulate fracking in California; explains current actions by state officials to implement this landmark legislation; identifies key unresolved legal and policy issues raised by the legislation and implementing regulation; and recommends specific steps to resolve those issues.  

"Senate Bill 4: A Past and Future Look at Regulating Hydraulic Fracturing in California" (pdf)