Hydraulic Fracturing Legislation - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

2 Senators are taking our country's energy concerns to Capitol Hill.

Today North Dakota Senator John Hoeven, along with Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski announce new hydraulic fracturing legislation, they plan to introduce in the Senate this week.

The Senators spent the past 2 days touring the Bakken.

The Empower States Act is focused on boosting domestic oil and gas production, growing the economy and creating jobs.

The measure also gives states the power to regulate hydraulic fracturing.

(John Hoeven / Senator (ND-R)) "A one size fits all federal approach is not the right approach when it comes to regulating hydraulic fracturing. That's why we need a state's lead or state's first approach.  Only if state's have a problem, or a safety issue or environmental issue or some type of problem that they are not handling, then and only then would federal agencies step in to address it."

Hoeven says with the right policies, he believes energy independence can be reached in 5 to 7 years.