[PASSED] Repeal: “Restrictions On Hydraulic Fracturing”

[Lenlyvit]

Repeal: “Restrictions On Hydraulic Fracturing”

A resolution to repeal previously passed legislation.

Category: Repeal

Resolution: GA#417

Proposed by: Simone Republic

General Assembly Resolution #417 “Restrictions on Hydraulic Fracturing” (Category: Environmental; Industry Affected: All Businesses - Strong) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.

The World Assembly,

Acknowledging the Assembly’s efforts to protect member states’ environment, ensure a safe water supply (GAR#223, GAR#441, GAR#453), and regulate oil drilling activities (GAR#95, GAR#409 and GAR#510);

Concerned that the targeted resolution, GAR#417 "Restrictions on Hydraulic Fracturing" fails to adequately regulate fracturing as a method of oil and gas extraction, and left open loopholes that impair effective regulations and impede proper governance, including the following key issues:

1. The target only covers fracturing that uses "pressurized liquids" and thus allowing any producer to adopt new technologies in non-liquid fracturing such as using natural gas, nitrogen, propane stimulation and pneumatic fracturing;

2. The target “[p]rohibits the practice of hydraulic fracturing… which are in or within close range of land inhabited” but with a significant qualifier on the said prohibition on its applicability "to the extent of that the practice" (i) “poses a demonstrably significant threat of contamination”, (ii) “harms the water resources demonstrably neccessary to ensure the health of local communities” and/or (iii) “poses significant risk of other strongly detrimental health effects”, without defining key terms such as "close range", “demonstrably significant threat” or water resources “demonstrably necessary” for health, and what constitutes “strongly detrimental health effects”;

3. The said resolution prevents member states from negotiating transboundary solutions on fracturing that would be mutually beneficial to states tapping into fields on both sides of a boundary, and forces members bordering non-members to restrict their own operations while allowing those non-members to frack at will;

Thus believing that conditions imposed by the target impede the Assembly from considering enhanced rules on oil and gas drilling, allow producers to easily get around existing rules, calling the effectiveness of the resolution into serious questions;

Hereby repeals "Restrictions on Hydraulic Fracturing."

This is the discussion thread. To cast your vote, go HERE

[Pantso]

Considering the apparent absence of any replacement legislation in the queue, the Republic of Pantso would rather support a flawed and incomplete resolution to regulate the industry than remove what regulations do exist. Pantso will vote Against this repeal and hope the existing regulations are strengthened rather than removed.

[Lenlyvit]

With the tied vote on the forum I've gone ahead and voted based upon the on-site regional tally.