American Natural Gas Security and Consumer Protection Act - Fall

The rapid expansion of unconventional natural gas extraction—enabled by horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing—has increased domestic production while raising environmental and public health concerns. S.585 requires the Department of Energy to evaluate whether natural gas exports serve the public interest by considering environmental impacts, consumer energy costs, and contributions to climate change before approving export licenses. The bill mandates Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and mitigation plans to assess risks such as groundwater contamination, methane emissions, wastewater disposal challenges, and air pollution near extraction sites.

The workshop’s program design focuses on three core regulatory mechanisms: chemical disclosure requirements, chemical monitoring of groundwater and surface water, and improved wastewater management standards. The proposal outlines coordination between the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, staffing plans, budget allocations, performance metrics, and a phased implementation timeline. By integrating environmental oversight into export authorization decisions, the legislation seeks to balance energy security and economic benefits with protections for public health and ecosystem integrity.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management.