This story and others also invariably contain quotes from environmental groups or anti-development activists who complain about the trade secret protection clause in the Texas law, but who also have expressed longtime support for a proposed federal law commonly referred to as the FRAC Act.

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"Neither the office of the attorney general nor the comptroller's office, agencies with knowledge of the settlement agreement and the secret payout, raised any objection to inclusion of such a confidentiality clause, " the report stated.

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