Appearing before the House Natural Resources Committee November 16, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar defended the administration’s energy policies as robust. The hearing focused on offshore drilling and hydraulic fracturing, and committee Republicans contended that the administration continues to erect more hurdles to increase domestic energy production. Secretary Salazar said that the agency is still working on fracking regulations, and does not yet have a timeline for completion, but will issue a proposed rule when it is ready, and will focus on wellbore integrity, disclosure of chemicals and agents, and water issues.