"Neither side in the debate was celebrating the new Environmental Protection Agency rules announced last week to reduce air pollution from thousands of natural gas wells that undergo hydraulic fracturing every year.

Hydraulic fracturing involves mixing water, chemicals and fine sand and then pumping the solution down gas and oil wells to break up rock formations, opening fissures that allow the gas and oil to be drawn to the surface.

The "fracking" produces air toxics and volatile organic compounds that react with sunlight to create smog that is believed to increase risks to health and safety."

Get the Story:
Gazette opinion: New fracking rules will reduce air pollution (The Billings Gazette 4/25)

Related Stories:
Audio: Subcommittee hearing on fracking on tribal lands (4/19)
Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee hearing (4/18)
House hearings on tribal energy and Pascua Yaqui land bill (4/10)
North Dakota tribe asks Congress to block fracking proposal (3/30)
Blackfeet Nation brings fracking technology to reservation (3/28)