Colorado Delays Fracking Disclosure Decision

DENVER (AP) - Colorado regulators will wait a week to deliberate on a proposal to require oil and gas companies to publicly disclose what chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission made the decision Monday night after hearing about 11 hours of comments on the proposal from industry officials, conservation groups, residents, local government leaders and water utilities.

All parties generally support the commission's efforts but disagree on details on issues including when the information should be disclosed and protection for chemicals considered to be trade secrets.

Hydraulic fracturing involves blasting water, sand and chemicals into rock formations to free oil and natural gas. Companies have been fracking for decades, but residents near wells have expressed concerns about potential effects on their health and drinking water

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