Stricter Fracking Laws Introduced in Colorado

Colorado’s state government took some tough, positive measures to check and preserve its groundwater by issuing strict fracking laws this month.

Fracking (known as hydraulic fracturing) is a drilling technique in which toxic chemicals, sand, and millions of gallons of water are injected under high pressure into the earth to free natural gas in shale deposits. Critics of the process claim the chemicals may contaminate groundwater and rivers and affect the health of nearby residents.

United Press International (UPI) reports the new Colorado fracking laws mandate energy companies to sample water from wells located close to the gas exploration site, before and after the hydraulic fracking process take place, to confirm that nearby groundwater is free from contamination due to drilling.

Additionally, the oil and gas companies must sample water from a minimum of four wells within half a mile of the drilling site, prior to the extraction process. Two more samples are to be taken within a year, and then more samples to be taken within six years, reports UPI.

Colorado is a pioneer in setting laws that require post-drilling water sampling, something no other state in the nation requires.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by contaminated water from fracking, contact Sokolove Law today for a free legal consultation and to find out if a personal injury lawyer may be able to help you.

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