Closing Loopholes and Ending Arbitrary and Needless Evasion of Regulations Act of 2025
Rep. Castor Introduces CLEANER Act to End Hazardous Waste Exemptions for Oil and Gas Companies
CLEANER Act of 2025
The CLEANER Act of 2025 is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently sent to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for review. No further actions are scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
This bill is supported only by Democrats and targets the oil and gas industry, which usually leads to strong opposition from the other party. It is likely to stay in committee without a vote.
Key Points
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Small and independent oil and gas operators would face significantly higher waste disposal costs if drilling fluids and produced water are classified as hazardous waste. Meeting new requirements for storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of these wastes could be especially burdensome for smaller companies with tighter margins, potentially driving some out of business or forcing consolidation in the industry.
“promulgate regulations under sections 3002, 3003, and 3004 for wastes identified or listed as hazardous waste pursuant to subparagraph (B)”
State Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articles
Ohio landfills take drilling waste, but don't track or test much of it
Congressional Democrats introduced a series of bills in the House to regulate frack waste, including one called the 'Closing Loopholes and Ending Arbitrary and Needless Evasion of Regulations Act of 2025.' It includes a bid to define the waste as hazardous to ensure better tracking and testing.
States shred EPA rollback of key environmental protection
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency would reconsider several climate and industry regulations, including wastewater regulations for the oil and gas industry. This deregulatory push has sparked a wave of lawsuits from states and the introduction of the CLEANER Act in Congress.
Fracking Has a Waste Problem, and Truckers Need a Solution
Truck drivers transporting fracking waste often do so without knowing the materials are radioactive or toxic because of the RCRA exemption. The CLEANER Act of 2025 is highlighted as a necessary step to classify this waste as hazardous, providing truckers with HAZMAT protections and training.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
CLEANER Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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