PA Environment Digest

As part of his campaign platform, Gov.-elect Tom Corbett laid out a series of commitments on protecting the environment, developing Pennsylvania's energy resources, enhancing agriculture and promoting sportsmen's issues.

PA Environment Digest is taking a look at the commitments he made on regulating the natural gas industry--

As part of his commitment to developing Pennsylvania’s natural gas fields responsibly and in an environmentally sound manner, Tom Corbett supports strengthening existing regulations for drilling and enacting new ones that will protect the commonwealth’s water and land. Most immediately, Tom Corbett believes that we need to accomplish the following environmental goals:

-- Mandate Frac Chemical Disclosure. As Governor, Tom Corbett will call for mandatory disclosure of ALL additives used in the hydraulic fracking process for each well site. This mandate would include volumes, dilution factors and chemical characteristics.

-- Expand pre-drill water testing. Tom Corbett will mandate expanding the radius for pre-drill water testing.

-- Increase the mandatory protections for water supplies. Tom Corbett supports legislation that would require notification of potential drilling for all surface water owners and water purveyors that have water sources to be expanded from the current 1,000 feet to 2,500 feet. He also would support legislation that would increase the current prohibition of drilling within 200 feet of an existing drinking water supply to 500 feet.

-- Support DEP regulatory changes to protect water supplies. Tom Corbett supports the proposed DEP regulatory changes to Chapter 78 that would enhance the standards for construction of natural gas wells and bring them in line with 21st century standards. These proposed regulations include changes such as: requiring the use of blow-out preventers at all Marcellus wells; checking flow valves to ensure that gas is not escaping through the casing; requiring casing and cementing plans to be submitted and approved by DEP; and supporting calls for double walled cement casing through the deepest fresh water zone to help prevent gas migration.

-- Institute well cap inspections. Tom Corbett will direct DEP to implement regulations requiring daily inspection of well caps throughout Pennsylvania.

-- Increase bonding amounts. Tom Corbett will ensure that companies have adequate and appropriate financial and insurance resources to protect Pennsylvania’s environment. He supports legislation to increase the mandatory amounts required to protect communities in the event that a company walks away from its obligation to properly remediate a catastrophic situation or goes bankrupt. Specifically, he would support increasing the bond amounts per well and for blanket bonds that would be above the national averages.

-- Tougher penalties for violations. Tom Corbett will ensure that DEP properly trains inspectors to ensure that inspections are conducted thoughtfully and thoroughly. In addition, he will direct DEP to increase fines and penalties for any companies that violate drilling regulations.

-- Address issues related to gas migration. Gas migration is not a new issue with the collection of natural gas. Gas migration has been a concern since the beginning of drilling more than 100 years ago. Tom Corbett will direct DEP to institute new and tougher regulations and laws that will help to prevent the issues related to gas migration.

Direct interagency coordination of the Marcellus Shale. As highlighted in his energy plan, Tom Corbett will appoint and direct a new Energy Executive to ensure that energy policy is coordinated among all state agencies that have a role and expertise within this broad issue.

-- Protect the groundwater, encourage recycling and coordinate permitting. As highlighted in his energy plan, Tom Corbett will work with the General Assembly to enhance the Commonwealth’s water protection regulations and create a Marcellus Shale Science Advisory Board within DEP to help identify the best available and practical water recycling and treatment technologies to protect ground and surface waters. He also will work with the General Assembly to set aside a portion of the already existing permit fees and royalties paid by the natural gas industry to the Commonwealth to support the development of new and improved wastewater recycling technologies for use in the state.

To ensure that all issues related to the environmentally responsible and economically successful development of Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry are coordinated, Tom Corbett will create the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Commission. The bipartisan Commission will be tasked with identifying specific legislative, regulatory and other initiatives to address environmental concerns and resource development measures. Tom Corbett also will direct the commission to propose community outreach, education programs and technical assistance measures.

The commission will be co-chaired by the Governor's Energy Executive and the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection and be comprised of key stakeholders from Pennsylvania academia (specializing in mineral resources and environmental protection), Marcellus Shale producers and gathering line companies, county and township governments, environmental groups, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Chair and representatives of the General Assembly (4 legislative caucuses). The commission will be directed to finalize its legislative, regulatory, community and business recommendations within 180 days of its creation.

The complete Environmental Policy statement from Gov.-elect Corbett is available online.

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