Congress Investigating Fracturing

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee is investigating the impact on the environment of hydraulic fracturing-a process used in natural gas drilling. U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the committee chair, sent letters to the chief executive officers of a handful of drilling companies seeking information on the number of wells and the amount of chemicals used in "fracking." The panel announced the investigation in a recent statement.

An industry group, Energy in Depth, issued the following statement in response to Waxman's investigation.

"Hydraulic fracturing is an essential component of producing clean-burning energy in America today, and to the extent the committee's inquiry into this process helps clear up some of the misconceptions that have come to be associated with the technology, it's a study we look forward to contributing to," said Lee Fuller, executive director of Energy in Depth.