NJ Eyes Ban on Fracking Waste From Any State

New Jersey lawmakers are considering a ban on treating or storing waste products created by hydraulic fracturing operations in the natural gas exploration industry.

A state Senate committee advanced a bill on Monday that would prohibit the treatment, discharge, disposal, or storage of any wastewater, solids, sludge, or other byproducts resulting from a gas recovery technique commonly known as fracking.

The procedure injects water and other fluids into the ground at high pressure to break rock structures and free natural gas deposits trapped in them. It has significantly added to natural gas supplies and lowered their price, but has also caused concern about water contamination and other environmental problems.

Favored by environmentalists and opposed by business groups, the bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

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