TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida House has passed a bill to require oil and natural gas companies to disclose the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations - better known as "fracking."
Supporters say the bill (HB 743) approved on a 92-19 vote Wednesday evening is a proactive step to monitor a process currently not being done in Florida.
But parts of the Panhandle and southwest Florida have been identified as areas where geological conditions are suitable for fracking.
The bill calls for creation of an online chemical registry for wells where fracking is done.
During fracking, drillers inject water, sand and chemicals into the ground to break rock apart and free the oil and gas.
Supporters say the bill will allow for public notification of the chemicals drillers are putting into the ground.
