Marion, Ill – Anti-Fracking activists aren’t happy with State Representative John Bradley’s push to expedite the rule-making process.

Brent Ritzel of the group Southern Illinoisans Against Fracturing Our Environment (SAFE), joined dozens of protesters at Bradley’s office in Marion Tuesday.

“There is absolutely nothing responsible about bypassing state law to circumvent the collective voice of the citizens of Illinois and the expert review of the IDNR,” Ritzel says. “There is absolutely nothing responsible about dividing the state of Illinois by providing a moratorium on fracking in Chicago, thus acknowledging its imminent danger, while pushing fracking to begin immediately in southern Illinois.”

Bradley’s legislation would take away rule-making powers from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in an effort to jump start the process. He says oil and gas drilling companies have been frustrated with the lack of movement on the issue since Illinois’ fracking law was passed last year.

It passed a House committee vote Monday.