The Connection for Oil, Gas & Environment In The Northern Tier posted this commentary on its blog Wednesday about drilling industry reaction to proposed final changes to DEP’s Chapter 78A (Shale) drilling regulations—
We are discouraged with our industry friends. We look at these folks, the operators many of which now live in our region, as friends and partners. Many of us hold gas leases and have well pads and other facilities near our homes, so it is not unusual for us to have that outlook.
It is extremely disappointing to see the industry rally against the Chapter 78a (Environmental Protection Performance Standards at Oil and Gas Well Sites) regulatory package.
We've been in this process since 2011 and yet, they are trying to delay it again so the regulatory deadline is missed and thus, we'll continue to lack regulations that we deserve for operations near our homes and schools.
In the same time frame that we've struggled to get this far, other states have improved and enacted their regulations. WV for example, has a 625' setback to a home where we have 500'.
And, we are not even talking about changing setbacks, largely, these regulations do not limit where they can work, but rather, how, and then they are noted as performance standards, which means they choose how they want to meet them.
"Performance" says it all - how they will "perform" next to our homes, schools, within our communities. We are concerned why these folks feel threatened by these regulations being they tell us they respect where we live. If that is the case, it would seem they wouldn't be creating such a strong opposition.
We really need better measures to guide the industry and in the long run -- we do truly expect they will also benefit from them.
(Reprinted from Connection for Oil, Gas & Environment In The Northern Tier Blog April 1.)
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