New Version of Fracking Fluid Disclosure Registry to be Launched June 1
Managers of FracFocus, the national database containing operator-disclosed information on substances used in hydraulic fracturing fluids, expect to officially launch an updated version on June 1, 2013 to improve the site’s functionality. The new version, referred to as FracFocus 2.0, will reportedly contain several enhancements, including expanded search criteria, upgraded accessibility for state agencies and improved data quality verification. Upgrades to the database became necessary as states began requiring drillers to disclose through FracFocus the chemicals used in their fracking fluid. The enhancements may also address recent criticisms contained in a Harvard Law School study, which concluded that FracFocus contains several flaws that prevent the database from serving as an adequate regulatory compliance tool for disclosure mandates.