PA Environment Digest

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) this week sent a letter to the Delaware River Basin Commission as it considers regulation of natural gas wells in the Delaware River Basin.

Senator Casey urged the Commission to include stronger disclosure provisions for chemical composition of the fracturing fluids used by gas drilling companies to protect the 15 million residents who rely on the Delaware River for their drinking water as well as provisions to strengthen emergency response at wells.

Senator Casey urged the Commission to include these provisions in a letter to the Delaware River Basin Commission last year.

“As I discussed in my October 13, 2010 letter to the Commission, the use of toxic chemicals in the fracturing fluids is a serious concern should these chemicals be released into the environment,” said Senator Casey. “As such, it is critical that drilling companies fully disclose the chemical composition of the fracturing fluids.”

Senator Casey also called on the DRBC to implement some of the measures he has proposed at the federal level including public disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing and enhanced emergency response measures to protect workers and the community in the event of a well blowout or other emergency.

Senator Casey also wrote: “I am pleased to see that Section 7.5 of the draft regulations speaks to the need for the operator to report any release or threatened release of hydraulic fracturing contaminants to the Commission and appropriate local, state and federal agencies. However, I would also ask the Commission require that a detailed spill or accidental release action plan be included in an operator’s Natural Gas Development Plans and that the emergency response plan be evaluated by the Commission as part of its approval process.”

Senator Casey plans to reintroduce the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act to repeal an exemption provided for the oil and gas industry and would require the disclosure of the chemicals used in their hydraulic fracturing processes.

He also plans to reintroduce legislation to improve emergency response at oil and gas wells and work with companies in Pennsylvania to improve safety at gas wells. After Senator Casey introduced his legislation, companies in Pennsylvania have made progress to increase emergency response and preparedness at well sites.

The Faster Action Safety Team Emergency Response (FASTER) Act provides the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) with the ability to draft regulations that will enhance emergency response procedures at oil and gas wells.

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