Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
CP Text: The United States federal government should issue a moratorium on further federal restrictions on natural gas production in the United States. The United States federal government should cover the costs of meeting federal regulations on the production of natural gas.

Solves - costs are key - 1AC author

Pyle 12

Thomas J. Pyle, President, Institute for Energy Research (IER), National Journal, 4-23-12, Regulating Natural Gas: What’s the Right Balance?, http://energy.nationaljournal.com/2012/04/regulating-natural-gas-whats-t.php

Lastly, EPA’s rule seems to … EPA’s cost-benefit analysis.

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
Comparative evidence - Public backlash is more of a threat than government regulation

Baily 12

Martin Neil Baily, Staff Writer, CNN, June 27, 2012, "Could cheap gas save the economy?", http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/27/news/economy/shale-gas/index.htm?iid=HP_LN

But government support isn't the main .. .. in some promising areas.

We solve their offense - federal oversight solves fracking bad and regional adaptation without being overbearing

Freeman 12

Jody Freeman, staff writer, NY Times, July 5, 2012, "The Wise Way to Regulate Gas Drilling", http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/opinion/the-wise-way-to-regulate-hydraulic-fracturing.html?_r=1

A better approach is one already .. while respecting state authority.

Try or die for the industry - opposition is building now

A. Bans now

Negro 12

Sorell E. Negro is an associate at Robinson and Cole LLP, where she practices in the firm’s Land Law Section, Zoning and Planning Law Report, February 2012, "Fracking Wars: Federal, State and Local Conflicts over the Regulation of Natural Gas Activities", Vol. 35, No. 2, http://www.rc.com/documents/Negro_FrackingWars_2012.pdf

However, in many communities sitting on top of these gas .. to municipalities and the state’s regulatory framework.

B. Predictive - momentum's building

Eco Watch 12

Eco Watch, June 18, 2012, "Movement to Ban Fracking Sweeps Upstate New York", http://ecowatch.org/2012/new-york-state-towns-that-have-banned-fracking-tell-their-story/

Local officials who voted to impose municipal bans … no substitute for statewide action,” said Ryan.

C. New York proves

Cantarow 12

Ellen Cantarow, staff writer, The Nation, January 23, 2012, "Fracking Gets Its Own Occupy Movement", http://www.thenation.com/article/165802/fracking-gets-its-own-occupy-movement#

While most anti-fracking activists have been … legislation that would criminalize fracking.

D. Ohio proves

Klimas 12

Janina Klimas, Organizer for the Ohio Student Environmental Coalition, We Are Power Shift, January 17, 2012, "How Many Earthquakes Does It Take to Ban Fracking? (Actually, Ohio's not waiting around to find out...)", http://www.wearepowershift.org/blogs/how-many-earthquakes-does-it-take-ban-fracking-actually-ohios-not-waiting-around-find-out

The last few weeks have been a wicked ride for …. have time to wait around for more earthquakes.

New EPA regulations reduce backlash

Tullis 12

Paul Tullis, staff writer, Bloomberg Business Week, April 18, 2012, "New EPA Rules Could Prevent 'Fracking' Backlash", http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-04-18/new-epa-rules-could-prevent-fracking-backlash

The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday … safeguards like these regulations is in their interest.”

Lack of regulations causes backlash that kills the industry

Friedman 12

Thomas L. Friedman, internationally renowned author, reporter, and columnist—the recipient of three Pulitzer Prizes and the author of six bestselling books, NY Times, August 4, 2012, "Get It Right on Gas", http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/opinion/sunday/friedman-get-it-right-on-gas.html?_r=4andref=opinion

Energy companies who want to keep … environmental backlash to stop it.

federal regulations solve regulatory uncertainty better  - creates predictability

Lustgarten 11

Abrahm Lustgarten, staff writer, The Guardian, April 21, 2011, "Natural gas drilling is at a crucial turning point", http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/apr/21/natural-gas-drilling-turning-point

In the US that is going to be… win-win it was promised to be.

That regulatory Predictability is key to the industry

Fitzsimmons and Tennis 12

Mark Fitzsimmons, is a partner in the toxic tort and environmental litigation section, and Rachel Tennis, is an associate in the litigation and environmental regulatory sections, of Steptoe and Johnson LLP in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office, Power Magazine, April 18, 2012, "Fracking Industry Braces for a Wave of Regulation", http://www.powermag.com/gas/Fracking-Industry-Braces-for-a-Wave-of-Regulation_4542_p4.html

This patchwork of requirements,..and support reasonable proposals.

The industry agrees

Rascoe 12

Ayesha Rascoe, Staff writer, Reuters, May 4, 2012, "U.S. proposes new rules for fracking on federal lands", http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/04/us-usa-fracking-regulations-idUSTRE84315N20120504

But not all producers greeted the rules with apprehension. …industry standard," Faulkner said.