Since 2005, hydraulic fracturing (commonly called "fracking" — a method of drilling for oil and gas by injecting fluid underground at high pressure) has been exempt from the Safe Drinking Water Act, meaning the federal government cannot regulate it as underground injection. The Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2025 would remove that exemption and bring fracking under federal oversight. Drilling companies would be required to disclose, before and after each operation, the full list of chemicals injected underground — including chemical names, safety data, and volumes used — and states would post that information publicly. In a medical emergency, companies would have to immediately share even trade-secret chemical formulas with doctors and regulators treating affected patients.
Congressional Summary
This bill modifies drinking water requirements concerning hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operations, including by giving the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to protect groundwater sources (e.g., wells) from certain pollution risks posed by fracking operations.The bill also establishes requirements for disclosing the chemicals intended for use in fracking operations as well as the chemicals actually used in the operations. If the proprietary chemical formulas of chemicals used in fracking operations are necessary for treatment in medical emergencies, then the operations must disclose the formulas or the specific chemical identities of trade secret chemicals to the state, the EPA, or the treating physicians or nurses upon request, regardless of whether written statements of need or confidentiality agreements have been provided.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-11-18
- Date Added
- 2026-04-10
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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