BILL NUMBER:  S279

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
wastewater treatment facilities

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that wastewater treatment
facilities safely handle water from hydraulic fracturing operations.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

This bill would:

*prohibit wastewater treatment facilities from accepting wastewater
from hydraulic fracturing operations unless such facilities meet
performance requirements; and,

*require the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) to promulgate regulations establishing a standard
of performance for the discharge of pollutants from facilities that
treat wastewater from hydraulic fracturing facilities. Such standards
shall permit no discharge of pollutants, or if not feasible, shall
require the greatest possible degree of effluent reductions.
              

 JUSTIFICATION :

Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) involves the high-pressure injection
of millions of gallons of water and multiple chemicals into rock to
stimulate the production of oil and gas. The hydraulic fluid often
includes several different categories of chemicals including:
proppants (to open fractures); acids (to clean up cement); breakers
(to reduce viscosity and enhance fluid recovery);
bactericides/biocides (to prevent the growth of bacteria that could
reduce the ability of the fluid to carry proppant); clay stabilizer
(to prevent the formation of clays that could decrease permeability);
corrosion inhibitor (to reduce rust formation on steel tubing and
tanks); crosslinkers (to increase fluid viscosity); friction reducers
(to increase fluid flow); gelling agents (to increase viscosity); iron
controls, scale inhibitors, and, surfacants (to aid fluid recovery).
The resulting wastewater, commonly referred to as produced water, is
highly salty and contains all of the residual chemicals. If not
treated properly at wastewater treatment facilities, those chemicals
could enter the water supply.

In response to concerns about water contamination and the ability of
treatment. plants to properly handle fracking waste, Pennsylvania
required drillers to stop taking such waste to the State's treatment
facilities. This legislation would enact a similar prohibition until
DEC is able to adopt protective treatment standards.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

S.45-A of 2015-2016 (Hoylman): Died in Environmental Conservation
A.6836-A of 2015-2016 (Englebright): Died in Environmental
Conservation
S.7783 of 2014 (O'Brien): Died in Environmental Conservation
A.5464-A of 2013-2014 (Sweeney): Advanced to Third Reading Calendar

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
section two shall take effect January 1, 2022.