A proposal for a new set of administrative
rules with regards to fracking was presented to the House Energy and Technology
Committee by Hal Fitch, an official in the oil and gas division of the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
State residents have demanded that there be
more transparency to the rules for fracking.
The first step to improving transparency was
to provide a geographic map of on the DEQ’s website with well locations. The
map allowed comments from Michigan residents that would help gain approval from
the public regarding wells in those residents’ areas.
Committee Chairman Representative Aric
Nesbitt (R-Lawton) voiced his concern about how much the new regulations could
cost the industry. Representative Nesbitt questioned the need to update the
rules when Michigan has some of the best fracking regulations in the
country.
Mr. Fitch is expecting the new rules to take
effect in the fall of 2014.