What This Bill Does
This bill changes rules about hydraulic fracturing (a method that pumps liquid into rock to extract gas or oil) in three river regions: the Susquehanna, Delaware, and Potomac River basins. The bill says certain regional river commissions cannot create, carry out, or enforce hydraulic fracturing rules unless those rules come only from the individual state's authority.
Who It Affects
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission, the Delaware River Basin Commission, and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin are directly affected by this bill. States where these river basins exist are also affected.
Key Provisions
* Regional river commissions cannot finalize, implement, or enforce any hydraulic fracturing regulation unless that regulation comes only from the state's own authority (Sec. 2)
What Changes
Currently, regional river commissions have authority over certain regulations in their areas. This bill removes their authority to create or enforce hydraulic fracturing rules unless those rules come only from individual states, not from the regional commissions themselves.
Important Definitions
Hydraulic fracturing: Pumping liquid into rock to extract natural gas or oil
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1217
To amend the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 with respect to
certain regulatory actions related to hydraulic fracturing within the Sus-
quehanna, Delaware, and Potomac River basins, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 27, 2023
Mr. PERRY (for himself, Mr. MEUSER, and Mr. RESCHENTHALER) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend the Water Resources Development Act of 2007
with respect to certain regulatory actions related to hy-
draulic fracturing within the Susquehanna, Delaware,
and Potomac River basins, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Denying Regulatory
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Interference with Landowners and Legislatures Now Act’’
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or the ‘‘DRILL Now Act’’.
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•HR 1217 IH
SEC. 2. REGULATION OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING WITHIN
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THE SUSQUEHANNA, DELAWARE, AND POTO-
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MAC RIVER BASINS.
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Section 5019 of the Water Resources Development
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Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–114) is amended by adding
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at the end the following:
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‘‘(f) REGULATION OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING.—
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Notwithstanding any provision of the Susquehanna River
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Basin Compact to which consent was given by Public Law
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91–575 (84 Stat. 1512), the Delaware River Basin Com-
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pact to which consent was given by Public Law 87–328
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(75 Stat. 691), or the Potomac River Basin Compact to
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which consent was given by Public Law 91–407 (84 Stat.
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856), the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, the
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Delaware River Basin Commission, and the Interstate
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Commission on the Potomac River Basin, as applicable,
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may not finalize, implement, or enforce any regulation re-
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lating to hydraulic fracturing that is issued pursuant to
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any authority other than that of the State in which the
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regulation is to be implemented or enforced.’’.
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Æ
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