The two webinars conducted by staff from the Department of Environmental Protection to answer questions about the proposed  regulations for environmental protection performance standards associated with oil and gas activities currently open for public comment are now posted to DEP’s website for on-demand viewing.

Six more public hearings will be held by the Environmental Quality Baord during January to give people an opportunity to present testimony which will be considered when finalizing the regulation. (formal notice-PA Bulletin, page 7377)

The public hearing originally scheduled for January 7 at Tunkhannock High School Auditorium in Wyoming County was rescheduled to Jan. 27 due to adverse weather conditions.

The proposed regulation implements key provisions of Act 13 of 2012, including further consideration of impacts to public resources, such as parks and wildlife areas; the prevention of spills; the management of waste; and the restoration of well sites after drilling.

Additionally, the draft rulemaking also includes standards affecting the construction of gathering lines and temporary pipelines, and includes provisions for identifying and monitoring abandoned wells close to proposed well sites.

The 60-day public comment period ends February 12.

For more information about the proposed regulation, visit DEP’s Oil and Gas Regulations webpage.

(Reprinted from the January 9 DEP News.)

1/13/2014