Energy companys, environmentalist cooperate of fracturing rules

U.S. Natural Gas Production 1900–2005 Source: EIAImage via Wikipedia
Houston Chronicle:

Energy companies and environmental groups have more often been adversaries than allies when it comes to hydraulic fracturing, the drilling technique used to unlock natural gas from shale rock nationwide.

But a handful of gas producers and environmental advocates are striving to change that dynamic by collaborating on a plan to step up the safety and regulation of hydraulic fracturing.

Now regulated at the state level, the technique involves injecting fluids deep underground and at high pressure to break up shale rock and produce natural gas.

In New York, Pennsylvania and other states with promising shale formations, the industry has faced off with environmentalists who worry that natural gas or the liquids known as "fracking fluids" can contaminate nearby groundwater supplies.

Both sides hope to gain by working together.

For environmentalists, it's an opportunity to stiffen standards for a technique that is increasingly used nationwide and could help boost domestic supplies of a cleaner burning power source.

For the industry, it's a chance to counter a major PR problem that threatens to undermine support for domestic natural gas production through this method and could drive bans on its use.

Mark Boling, executive vice president of Southwestern Energy, said he hatched the idea for the collaboration because the current debate is becoming more polarized, with a fearful public not soothed by industry assurances that hydraulic fracturing has been safely used for decades.

...
There is more.

I tend to think the environmental movement raised its concerns in a bad faith attempt to stop energy development so they could drive up the price of finding and exploiting natural gas reserves. They want to drive up the price to make less efficient energy like solar and wind more competitive. When they saw that the US was developing cheap and abundant natural gas they became concerned about their agenda more than they were concerned about any problems with fracturing.

If this program gets them to take ownership of the process then it will be a success, but I doubt their good faith.
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