A small first step

The EPA has issued its first regulations on fracking.  They don't cover the biggest problem of water pollution and they really don't go into effect until 2015, but it's a start.  One reason that ground water could not be covered is that our esteemed Congress exempted fracking from the provisions of the Safe Water Drinking Act back in 2005; attempts to remove this exemption have failed.

The big question is when the EPA will protect us from the other risks of fracking.  The ability of the industry to postpone the regulation's implementation for three years is not a good sign that more rules will be forthcoming soon.