On the contrary, the natural energy industry is required through by state regulation to disclose the additives used in the hydraulic fracturing process. These chemical additives must be disclosed on a well-by-well basis in well completion reports filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as well as with FracFocus, a national registry for hydraulic fracturing additives.
Additionally, federal regulation dating back to 1986 also require that Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) be kept on location in the event of an emergency:
- In 1986, Congress enacted the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) EPCRA established requirements for federal, state and local governments, tribes, and industry regarding emergency planning and “community right-to-know” reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals.
- These provisions help increase the public’s knowledge and access to information on chemicals at individual facilities, along with their uses and potential releases into the environment.
- Under Sections 311 and 312 of EPCRA, facilities manufacturing, processing, or storing designated hazardous chemicals must make Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), describing the properties and health effects of these chemicals, available to state and local officials and local fire departments.
- Facilities must also provide state and local officials and local fire departments with inventories of all on-site chemicals for which MSDS exist. Information about chemical inventories at facilities and MSDS must be available to the public.
