The Halliburton Loophole

The Halliburton Loophole refers to a provision in the 2005 U.S. energy policy that exempts hydraulic fracturing (fracking) from regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This means that companies are not required to disclose the chemicals used in their fracking fluids, potentially hiding harmful substances from public and environmental scrutiny. Named after the energy company Halliburton, which popularized fracking processes, the loophole limits federal oversight and shifts regulation primarily to states, raising concerns about water safety and environmental health.