DEP Oil & Gas Advisory Board Has Spill Reporting, Funding For Well Plugging; Permit Fees; Carbon Capture; New Regs On April 25 Agenda

DEP’s  Oil & Gas Technical Advisory Board, which primarily discussed issues related to unconventional shale gas drilling, is scheduled to meet on April 25 and will have a lengthy agenda 

DCED’s PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council, related to conventional oil and gas drilling, is scheduled to hold a meeting April 21 in State College.  The location and agenda have not yet been released.

Oil & Gas Technical Advisory Board

The agenda for DEP’s Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board includes--

-- Update On Permit Fees, Current Drilling Activity

-- Update On New Spill Reporting Guidance: Presentation

-- Further consideration of Oil & Gas Spill Response

-- Update On New Federal Funding For Abandoned Oil & Gas Well Plugging

-- Draft Changes To Environmental Justice Permit Review Policy: Presentation

-- Update On Proposed New Regulations Covering Conventional Oil & Gas Drilling

-- Potential for Streamlining Waste Management Reporting Forms

-- Radioactivity Monitoring At Waste Processing, Disposal Facilities

-- Update On Erosion & Sediment Control General Permit Prioritization

-- Carbon Capture Sequestration & Storage Priorities, Regulatory Framework Considerations

-- Update on Class II Underground Injection Well Program

Not on the agenda is a discussion of increasing bonding amounts to prevent the abandonment of new oil and gas wells.  Read more here.

Click Here for the complete agenda and available handouts

The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg starting at 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to register to participate via WebEx. Audio-only access available: (415) 655-0003 Access Code: 2631 796 2909. 

Public Comment

Individuals interested in providing public comments during the meeting should contact Todd Wallace at least 24-hours in advance of the meeting at twallace@pa.gov or by telephone at 717-783-6395.

For more information and available handouts, visit DEP’s 

DEP Oil & Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting.  Room 105 Rachel Carson Building. 10:00.  See webpage for remote options to join the meeting.  Contact: Todd Wallace twallace@pa.gov, 717-783-6395.

DCED PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council Meets April 21

DCED’s PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council, related to conventional oil and gas drilling, is scheduled to hold a meeting April 21 in State College.  The location and agenda have not yet been released.

There was discussion of having Dr. William Burgos from Penn State University present their new study of the environmental impact of road spreading conventional drilling wastewater at this meeting.

For more information, visit DCED’s PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council webpage.  Questions should be directed to Adam Walters, adwalters@pa.gov or call 717-214-6548. 

Related Articles:

-- 6th Oil/Natural Gas Shock: Number Of New Natural Gas Wells Drilled In First Quarter Declined By Over 25% In PA Compared To 2021, 2020

-- Quarterly Report: DEP Issued 77 Notices Of Violations To Conventional Drillers, 8 To Shale Gas Drillers For Attempting To Abandon Wells Without Plugging Them

[“Warning: The average person is likely to be shocked at the number and extent of the violations documented by DEP day in and day out.”]

-- 12 Unconventional Shale Gas Drillers Issued DEP Notices Of Violation For Abandoning Wells Without Plugging Them At 35 Well Pads In 17 Counties 

-- EQB Accepts Petitions For Study To Increase Oil & Gas Well Bonding; DEP Has $15 Per Well Available In Bonds To Plug Conventional Wells

-- Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers Pay Only $46,100 Of The $10,600,000 It Costs DEP To Regulate That Industry; Taxpayers May Be Asked To Pay The Difference 

[Posted: April 11, 2022]  PA Environment Digest