Oregon debates fracking moratorium

Should Oregon temporarily ban fracking?

A legislative committee will hear testimony Tuesday on a bill that would put a 10-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas exploration and production in the state.

In the United States, more than a million wells have been "fracked," a process that usually involves injecting water, sand and chemicals into rock under high pressure to fracture it and release trapped hydrocarbons.

Proponents tout the economic benefits brought to communities with wells and the energy independence they afford.

Opponents argue that the wells use an inordinate amount of fresh water, can contaminate ground water and can potentially trigger earthquakes.

In Oregon, five wells were fracked near Coos Bay, on the south coast, nearly a decade ago. That worked stopped when the original owners filed for bankruptcy.

"Right now we don't think the fracturing industry has its eye on Oregon," said Rep. Ken Helm, D-Washington County, who is sponsoring the bill.

That's why it makes little sense for the state to spend time and money developing rules and regulations for the practice here, said Helm, who works as a land-use attorney.

But interest could develop quickly, catching Oregon unprepared.

"I thought it might be a good time to get ahead of the curve on that issue before we have the industry knocking at our door," Helm said. "Our research tells us over 20 states in the country have some sort of regulation, and three states have decided to ban it outright."

Helm said he plans to introduce an amendment to the bill that would allow the moratorium to be lifted early if state agencies adopt appropriate rules.

The legislation would specifically exempt two projects already operating in Oregon, Helm said.

Neither uses traditional hydraulic fracturing techniques:

•In Mist, in northwest Oregon, the utility NW Natural uses underground caves for natural gas storage.

•At Newberry Crater, in Central Oregon, a company called AltaRock is gearing up to use a process called hydroshearing to break through rock to produce power at the geothermal site.

The state Department of Geology and Mineral Industries is neutral on the bill, said Richard Riggs, assistant director, mineral land regulation and reclamation.

tloew@statesmanjournal.com, (503) 399-6779 or follow at Twitter.com/SJWatchdog

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The House Committee on Energy and Environment will hold a public hearing on House Bill 3415 at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, in Hearing Room D at the Oregon Capitol.

The bill would impose a 10-year moratorium on use of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas exploration and production.