A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to clarify that underground injection does not include certain activities, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 25, 1999

Amends provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act concerning regulations for State programs for protection of underground sources of drinking water to exclude from the definition of "underground injection" the underground injection of fluids or propping agents pursuant to hydraulic fracturing operations for purposes of reservoir stimulation related to oil or gas production activities. Grants the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency the sole authority to determine whether an activity not regulated as underground injection before October 11, 1995, shall be regulated under such provisions.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK] · R–OK

Committees

Environment and Public Works Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Mar 25, 1999
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Mar 25, 1999
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3452)
Mar 25, 1999
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Mar 25, 1999 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.724 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.724, 106th Congress: A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to clarify that underground injection does not include certain activities, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/724

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s724/BILLS-106s724is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:13:48Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.724 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.724 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.724, 106th Congress: A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to clarify that underground injection does not include certain activities, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/724

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s724/BILLS-106s724is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:13:48Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.724 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.724 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.724, 106th Congress: A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to clarify that underground injection does not include certain activities, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/724

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s724/BILLS-106s724is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:13:48Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.724 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.724 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.724, 106th Congress: A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to clarify that underground injection does not include certain activities, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/724

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-03-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s724/BILLS-106s724is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:13:48Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.724 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.