Hydraulic Fracturing and the Emergent Dormant Commerce Clause
ABA SEER Constitutional Law Committee Newsletter, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2013
8 Pages Posted: 12 Feb 2013
Date Written: February 11, 2013
Abstract
This essay reviews the increasing prominence of the dormant Commerce Clause in debates over hydraulic fracturing. In particular, the essay is framed around New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s citing of the dormant Commerce Clause as a reason for vetoing a ban on hydraulic fracturing wastewater disposal passed by the New Jersey Legislature. The Governor’s reasoning is compared to analysis in a New Jersey Office of Legislative Services' memorandum indicating the dormant Commerce Clause would not be implicated by the proposed ban. The legal reasoning of the New Jersey dispute regarding the applicability of the dormant Commerce Clause to hydraulic fracturing is then considered in light of other scenarios around the country.
Keywords: hydraulic fracturing, fracking, dormant Commerce Clause
JEL Classification: K32, Q2, N5, O13, L95
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation