Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, along with a coalition of interest groups, Monday held a news conference to urge Gov. Tom Wolf to support proposed natural gas drilling regulations— Chapter 78 (conventional) and Chapter 78a (unconventional) regulations.
Rep. Vitali said that environmental supporters believe the regulations are on the chopping block, but so far Gov. Wolf has refused to commit to supporting them.
Myron Arnowitt, state director of Clean Water Action, said his organization urges the legislature and the governor to support the drilling regulations.
He said that after 30,000 public comments, 12 public hearings and approval by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, the time has come to put the regulations in place to make drilling safer.
"The oil and gas industry feels that it should not be regulated," Arnowitt said. "However, their operations are continually polluting the environment. We urge Gov. Wolf to back these regulations."
Anita Mentzer from the Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network said that conventional drillers use millions of gallons of water and they have a significant number of violations at well sites, so they should be included in the drilling regulations.
She said her organization urges the legislature and the governor to support the regulations as they are currently written.
"It is the responsibility of our elected officials to uphold the environmental rights of the state’s citizens," Mentzer said. "These regulations are in the public interest and we oppose any efforts to block or weaken them."NewsClips:
Delaware County Lawmaker Blasts Wolf As Weak On Environment
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