LANSING ? Michigan House Democrats announced legislation on Thursday that would add regulations to horizontal hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to require more transparency from companies do fracking for natural gas.

The legislation would require the disclosure of chemicals used in the fracking process and report the water used when it exceeds 100,000 gallons; allow communities to request public hearings before a fracking permit is issued and control fracking operations in the communities; and create a public-private advisory community to study the effects of fracking and make recommendations.

Also, the legislation would increase the distance between a fracking operation and residential areas, and then apply it to schools, hospitals, daycare centers and public parks.

Rep. Sarah Roberts (D-Saint Clair Shores) said the legislation is not designed to make fracking permits harder to permit, but the state’s water is vital to its economy and should be protected.

“Transparency doesn’t cost anything,” she said about the legislation.

Roberts also noted that a Canadian company is planning to drill 500 new wells in the state and would use 4 billion gallons of water.

Rep. Andy Schor (D-Lansing), a sponsor of one of the bills, said regulating the water use in fracking is the same as when the Legislature fought to not share water with southern states. He said the state’s water needs to be protected now just like it did then.

Nic Clark, state director of Clean Water Action, also joined the Democrats at the news conference in support of the bills.

“With hundreds of new wells being planned statewide, we cannot afford to wait another year to implement the proper protections for our Great Lakes state,” said Clark.

Although fracking has been used in the state since 1952, Roberts said horizontal fracking is relatively new.

“Vertical fracking has been done here since 1952, but new horizontal drilling is using more chemicals, more water and more land. Michiganders deserve to know what fracking is and what it really does,” she said. “Our legislation makes sure drilling companies disclose the chemicals they use, report how much water they use, and give a voice to the public and the local community.”

Even though some activists are still calling for a ban on fracking, the Michigan Oil and Gas Association was pleased the package did not call for such, saying it would be “nonsensical and job killing.”

“Michigan has been and continues to be a leader when it comes to producing clean and natural gas from our state’s own resources, while maintaining an outstanding track record of keeping the environment and communities clean and safe,” the group said in a statement. “At the same time, Michigan energy production is vital to our state’s economy, supporting some 30,000 Michigan jobs and contributing about $3 million to the state’s economy.”

While Schor acknowledged that fracking is important for the economy, he added that tourism and agriculture also is important, and is contingent upon a healthy water source.

Katie Carey, spokesperson for House Democrats, said Rep. Frank Foster (R-Petoskey) also is introducing a fracking bill, but it is not part of the Democrats’ package. Foster could not be reached on Thursday for further comment.

Ari Adler, spokesperson for House Republicans, said the caucus has not had a chance to look over the legislation at this point.

“We don’t have all the information on the bills yet and don’t know if or how they will fit into committee schedules,” Adler said. “If the House Democrats have legitimate concerns, we would encourage them to work with their colleagues across the aisle in a cooperative fashion to try to address them. Press events like the one held today are designed to rile up political differences and garner media attention – they are generally not an effective way for a minority party to provide real solutions.”

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