DRILL Now Act

Bill Number

H.R. 1341

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-02-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Last Updated

2025-05-02T14:04:15Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Denying Regulatory Interference with Landowners and Legislatures Now Act" (DRILL Now Act) aims to limit the regulatory authority of certain interstate river basin commissions over hydraulic fracturing (a drilling technique known as fracking, which injects high-pressure fluid into rock to extract oil or gas). It ensures that regulations on fracking in the Susquehanna, Delaware, and Potomac River basins are controlled solely by state governments, preventing interference from interstate bodies.

Key Provisions

• Amendment to Existing Law: Adds a new subsection (f) to Section 5019 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-114).
• Prohibition on Interstate Regulation: The Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Delaware River Basin Commission, and Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin are barred from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing any fracking-related rules unless those rules are based exclusively on authority granted by the state where the regulation applies.
• Override of Compacts: Explicitly overrides provisions in three interstate compacts (Susquehanna River Basin Compact, Delaware River Basin Compact, and Potomac River Basin Compact) for fracking matters, prioritizing state-level authority.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a targeted exception to the interstate compacts, which previously allowed these commissions (multi-state bodies formed by federal consent) broad authority over water resources and related activities in shared river basins.
• Shifts fracking oversight from potential interstate or federal-influenced regulation to purely state-based control, marking a departure from collaborative multi-state environmental management in these basins.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Limits the enforcement powers of the three river basin commissions, potentially reducing their role in environmental oversight and requiring states to handle fracking permits and rules independently. This could streamline state processes but complicate coordination on shared water issues.
• On Citizens: Landowners and communities in basin states (such as Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia) may face fewer interstate barriers to fracking operations, potentially boosting local energy development and jobs, but also raising concerns about state-level variations in environmental protections.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the basins are domestic; however, it could indirectly affect U.S. energy exports if fracking expands in these regions.
• Broader Effects: May accelerate fracking activities by easing regulatory hurdles, influencing water quality, energy prices, and local economies, while possibly increasing state-federal tensions over resource management.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• States and Local Governments: Primarily Pennsylvania (key fracking hub), along with New York, Delaware, Maryland, and others in the basins, who gain clearer authority over fracking rules.
• Energy Industry: Oil and gas companies benefit from reduced multi-state regulatory obstacles, potentially lowering compliance costs.
• Environmental and Community Groups: May oppose the bill due to fears of weakened protections for water resources shared across state lines.
• River Basin Commissions: Face diminished authority, requiring adjustments to their operations and focus on non-fracking issues.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Challenges the scope of interstate compacts (agreements between states approved by Congress), potentially inviting lawsuits over federal preemption or compact validity under the Compact Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 10), which governs state agreements.
• Constitutional: Reinforces federalism principles by emphasizing states' rights over interstate bodies, but could raise questions about Congress's authority to amend compact consents without state agreement.
• Political: Positions as pro-energy deregulation, likely appealing to industry and rural stakeholders while drawing criticism from environmental advocates; reflects ongoing debates over balancing economic development with ecological safeguards in shared watersheds.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10]

Cosponsors (6)

Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert [R-PA-8], Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13], Rep. Reschenthaler, Guy [R-PA-14]

Recent Actions

• 2025-02-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
• 2025-02-13: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
• 2025-02-13: Introduced in House
• 2025-02-13: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Denying Regulatory Interference with Landowners and Legislatures Now Act — issued 2025-02-13 — PDF (2 pages)