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Key Takeaways

• Martin J. Milita brings decades of regulatory and government affairs experience to discussions about hydraulic fracturing oversight in the United States.
• Hydraulic fracturing plays a major economic role but raises environmental concerns related to water contamination, air pollution, and chemical disclosure.
• Federal oversight has been limited due to statutory exemptions such as the “Halliburton Loophole” under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
• Regulatory responsibility largely falls to state governments, resulting in fragmented enforcement and inconsistent inspection practices.
• Proposed reforms, including the FRAC Act and Fracking Ban Act, seek to restore federal authority and strengthen environmental protections.