Rep. Camille George (D-Clearfield) Friday said that a recent letter sent to Gov. Corbett from the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors further shows the need for stronger regulations regarding deep injection wells used to dispose Marcellus shale gas drilling wastewater.

“PSATS said that deep injection wells need to be addressed in the Commonwealth,” Rep. George said.  “It specifically said we should be looking at what is happening in Ohio, which just adopted stronger regulations after several deep injection well-related earthquakes occurred around Youngstown.”

Rep. George noted that he has already introduced legislation that would address these issues in Pennsylvania, but was told his bill was not necessary in the Commonwealth.

Earlier this year, Rep. George wrote to the state Department of Environmental Protection asking for support for his House Bill 2350, the Injection Well Safe Water Act.  The bill, which provides for a two-year moratorium on the drilling of new injection wells and provides for setbacks from water supplies and geologic fault lines, contains several of the new regulations adopted by Ohio earlier this year.

Rep. George said that DEP Secretary Mike Krancer responded that he is “not convinced that deep well injection presents an issue that the Commonwealth needs to grapple with at this time.”

House Bill 2350 remains stuck in committee, but House GOP leaders could be persuaded to move the bill if they receive pressure from the public and the Corbett administration.

“It’s unfortunate that while I receive letters, emails, and phone calls every day about this issue, Sec. Krancer and Gov. Corbett feel that we don’t need to do anything,” Rep. George said.  “Now, we have PSATS writing to the governor saying we should be following Ohio’s example.

“People are worried about their water, they’re worried about earthquakes, and they’re worried about Penn’s Woods becoming the dumping ground for the gas industry,” Rep. George said.  “I’m not against the gas industry if they can create jobs and boost local economies, but we have to do this right.”

Rep. George said that means proper safeguards during the drilling process, and proper safeguards for the disposal of the drilling wastewater.

“We have approximately eight Class II deep injection wells in Pennsylvania at the moment,” Rep. George said.  “But that number is expected to go up significantly, and we need to be proactive to make sure people and their water supplies remain safe.”

While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has primary oversight of deep injection wells in Pennsylvania, those wells also are permitted by the state DEP.  Rep. George’s legislation requires stronger regulations to receive the DEP permits.

“This issue isn’t going away, and we need to take the bull by the horns,” Rep. George said.  “Support for stronger regulations is growing, and we need people to keep on pushing for action.”

Rep. George said that people should visit his website and view his page about deep injection wells.

“The louder we are, the more the Corbett administration must start listening to the people,” Rep. George said.  “Let’s make these guys take action when the House returns to session in September.”

In Pennsylvania, underground injection wells are regulated by the EPA.  Visit EPA’s Underground Injection Well webpage for more information, including the location of injection wells in the Commonwealth.

NewsClip: PA Twp. Supervisors Seek Stricter Disposal Wells Standards

8/27/2012