Comment on FR Doc # 2012-11304

Re: Oil and Gas: Well Stimulation, Including Hydraulic Fracturing, on Federal and Indian Lands (Document ID BLM-2012-0001-0001) Dear Director Abbey, Thank you for proposing new rules to prevent pollution from hydraulic fracturing and oil and gas development. I support BLM’s proposals to oil and gas companies to obtain permits before fracking and to test wells to ensure integrity of the cement and casings that prevent leaks. These are important steps that will safeguard public health and the environment. I urge you to strengthen the proposed rules on chemical disclosure and wastewater disposal in the following ways: Require oil and gas companies to disclose the chemicals they plan to use before fracking is permitted. Nearby residents would then be able to learn what chemicals the companies intend to use, comment on the chemicals, and have BLM address those comments. In addition, residents could test their water for contamination by those chemicals. Bar use of all pits (lined and unlined) for wastewater from drilling and fracking. Overflowing pits are a common source of contamination on oil and gas sites. They can be replaced with closed tanks which won’t leak or overflow. Establish “no drill” zones around homes and water supplies. Independent research shows a higher risk of air pollution and water contamination for a half mile around drill sites. A half-mile buffer zone around well bores would lower the risk of people getting sick and water supplies being contaminated. Require oil and gas companies to conduct and make available baseline water quality tests that will help document whether contamination occurs after drilling and fracking. It’s time for regulators to collect real data to determine just how widespread contamination from oil and gas development is. Require companies to document pathways for contamination, such as any existing faults, fractures and oil and gas wells, and avoid fracking in areas where there is a high risk of contamination. Thank you.