Updated 09.20.2024
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Industry, Materials, and Waste Management

Fracking Bans

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a technique in which large quantities of water, hazardous chemicals, and sand are used with high pressure to crack impermeable rock formations to release trapped gas and oil. States typically ban fracking by setting a target year in which the practice must end, or in which the state may no longer issue permits for fracking.

Banning fracking mitigates water supply depletion, prevents chemical contamination in drinking water, reduces air pollution and hazardous waste, and preserves healthy forests that are at risk of being turned into industrial zones. While some states do not have any oil and gas reserves, and therefore cannot practice fracking, they can still enact a fracking ban as a symbolic measure, as Vermont did in 2012.

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Glossary of Terms

States with Policy Enacted

In Progress

Partially Enacted

See States List

Key Resources

Glossary of Terms

Oil and Gas Activity by State

A resource hub with infrastructure maps, data downloads, and other resources on oil & gas activity for each state.
2024
Source:

Hydraulic Fracking and Health

An overview that delves into the process of hydraulic fracturing, its potential health risks to nearby residents, and the environmental impacts associated with this method of natural gas and oil extraction.
2022
Source:

How State Regulations Hold Us Back And What Other Countries Are Doing About Fracking

An article exploring the shortcomings of state-level regulations on fracking in the United States, contrasting them with more stringent approaches taken by countries like Germany, Scotland, and France to protect public health and the environment through federal oversight and bans on fracking activities.
2019
Source:

We Could Do a Lot More to Regulate Fracking

An article that sheds light on the inadequacies in monitoring and regulating the country's fracking activities, raising concerns about their potential impacts on air quality, water resources, and public health.
2018
Source:

Model States

Glossary of Terms

Maryland

Hydraulic fracking for the exploration and production of natural gas is banned.

2017
Establishing Policies

New York

Hydraulic fracking for the exploration and production of natural gas is banned.

2015
Establishing Policies

Washington

Hydraulic fracking for the exploration and production of natural gas is banned.

2019
Establishing Policies

Fracking Bans By State

Glossary of Terms
Filters
Status State Region Components YR Enacted
Not Enacted
Alabama

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southeast
Not Enacted
Alaska

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 West
Not Enacted
Arizona

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southwest
Not Enacted
Arkansas

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southeast
Enacted
California

The Department of Conservation’s Geologic Energy Management (CalGEM) Division prohibits issuing new permits to conduct well stimulation treatments, including fracking, for oil and gas wells.

Establishing Policies
West 2024
Not Enacted
Colorado

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 West
Not Enacted
Connecticut

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Northeast
Not Enacted
Delaware

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southeast
Not Enacted
Florida

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southeast
Not Enacted
Georgia

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southeast
Not Enacted
Hawai‘i

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 West
Not Enacted
Idaho

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 West
Not Enacted
Illinois

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Midwest
Not Enacted
Indiana

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Midwest
Not Enacted
Iowa

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Midwest
Not Enacted
Kansas

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Midwest
Not Enacted
Kentucky

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southeast
Not Enacted
Louisiana

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southeast
Not Enacted
Maine

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Northeast
Enacted
Maryland

Hydraulic fracking for the exploration and production of natural gas is banned.

Establishing Policies
Southeast 2017
Not Enacted
Massachusetts

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Northeast
Not Enacted
Michigan

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Midwest
Not Enacted
Minnesota

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Midwest
Not Enacted
Mississippi

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southeast
Not Enacted
Missouri

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Midwest
Not Enacted
Montana

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 West
Not Enacted
Nebraska

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Midwest
Not Enacted
Nevada

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 West
Not Enacted
New Hampshire

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Northeast
Not Enacted
New Jersey

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Northeast
Not Enacted
New Mexico

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southwest
Enacted
New York

Hydraulic fracking for the exploration and production of natural gas is banned.

Establishing Policies
Northeast 2015
Not Enacted
North Carolina

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southeast
Not Enacted
North Dakota

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Midwest
Not Enacted
Ohio

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Midwest
Not Enacted
Oklahoma

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southwest
Enacted
Oregon

The state established a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracking for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas until January 2, 2025.

Establishing Policies
West 2019
Not Enacted
Pennsylvania

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Northeast
Not Enacted
Rhode Island

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Northeast
Not Enacted
South Carolina

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southeast
Not Enacted
South Dakota

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Midwest
Not Enacted
Tennessee

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southeast
Not Enacted
Texas

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southwest
Not Enacted
Utah

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 West
Enacted
Vermont

Hydraulic fracking for the exploration and production of natural gas is banned.

Establishing Policies
Northeast 2012
Not Enacted
Virginia

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southeast
Enacted
Washington

Hydraulic fracking for the exploration and production of natural gas is banned.

Establishing Policies
West 2019
Not Enacted
West Virginia

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Southeast
Not Enacted
Wisconsin

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 Midwest
Not Enacted
Wyoming

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

 West

The State Climate Policy Dashboard tracks only passed policies and does not include bills currently proposed in legislative sessions. The website is intended to illustrate the current status of policies for each state, as well as key resources and model states for each policy.

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