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EU wants regulation on shale gas
EU politicians have rejected a ban on shale gas, while calling for a robust regulatory regime to address environmental and other concerns, in a series of votes yesterday in the European Parliament. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves pumping water containing chemicals into shale rock formations at high pressure. The votes rejected a call for an outright ban on new fracking activity, saying EU member states had the right to explore their reserves. However, two separate votes vetoed swift shale gas development citing concerns over the environment.