The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday held the first meeting of the 48-member Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force which was primarily used as an organization and introductory meeting.

DEP Secretary John Quigley provided an overview presentation on the Task Force and Work Group organization, objectives and schedule of meetings for the Task Force.

“We are in the midst of a wave of energy development that is unlike any other in the state’s history. The Marcellus shale and shale gas resources generally – including the upcoming Utica play - presents an immense economic opportunity for the Commonwealth,” said Quigley in his opening remarks addressing the 48 member task force. “Gov. Wolf wants this industry to succeed and recognizes that the infrastructure challenge is a major one and we need to work together to find the win-win opportunities to connect these wells to markets.”

“As you look at the density of development that is occurring… there are profound environmental and community impacts that we need to take into consideration,” said Quigley.

Quigley said the 110 additional members of the 12 Work Groups appointed with the Task Force would do the bulk of the work, primarily by telephone conference call, in producing recommendations in a series of reports to the Task Force for review and finalization.

The schedule outlined by Quigley has the Task Force producing a draft report for review by November 2.  A public comment period would be held in December on the draft with a final report due to the Governor and the General Assembly in February.

Quigley said there would be a public comment period built into each meeting of the full Task Force.  In addition, a special email address would be set up for comments.

Ann Roda, Director of DEP’s Office Of Program Integration, gave an overview of the work DEP’s Internal Oil and Gas Work Group is doing in support of the Task Force.

Secretary Quigley then gave a follow-up presentation on “The Case For Smart Planning In Pipeline Infrastructure Development.”

The next meeting of the 48-member Task Force will be on August 27 in the Susquehanna Conference Rooms, DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, from 1 to 4:00.

For more information, visit DEP’s Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force webpage.  An archived video of the first meeting will also be available on the Task Force webpage.

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7/27/2015