The natural gas industry comments were made during a hearing on House Bill 1946 (Vitali-D-Delaware) which would increase the minimum setback from unconventional shale gas wells from 500 feet to 2,500 feet from homes and 5,000 feet from schools, hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Industry Comments
Patrick Henderson, Vice President of Government Affairs and Communications for the Marcellus Shale Coalition, expressed industry opposition to House Bill 1948 saying “it is a de facto ban on future natural gas development.”
Henderson said the industry’s analysis of the proposed setbacks using GIS mapping shows between 88% and 100% of the land area of some shale gas producing counties would be off-limits for locating well pads under the legislation.
“You will hear, and we have heard from some proponents of this bill, that it is not a ban. That with longer laterals, operators can simply use the small remaining percentage of surface land available to drill,” said Henderson.
“This claim is absurd. None of these proponents have ever run a natural gas company. They have no appreciation for the complexity of the business, nor the related infrastructure necessary to operate this industry, nor do they care.
“Let's be clear, the proponents of this legislation have been unabashed in their desire to ban natural gas development. We should not be surprised that this legislation would do just that,” said Henderson.
When asked if the current setbacks contained in Act 13 of 2012 have any basis in science or medicine, Henderson did not answer, but said--
“What I would assert and offer is that you don't protect public health in the environment through setbacks.
“You protect it through a rigorous environmental oversight regulatory program, which we have in Pennsylvania now.
“Setbacks serve as a buffer for a variety of reasons, but if you were to look at the standards in place for constructing wells, for testing water wells, the inspections that occur, the permitting requirements that are in place, that is how you safeguard public health in the environment.
“And I believe that Pennsylvania is a standard for this nation. And in fact, many other states have looked to Pennsylvania to learn lessons and adopt very similar provisions that have been successful here, balancing energy development with environmental protection and public health protection,” said Henderson.
Henderson went on to describe the benefits of the shale gas industry in terms of economic benefits, the reduction of air pollution when natural gas displaced coal and the benefits of using gas to generate electricity.
Henderson concluded by saying the legislation “is offensive to the tens of thousands of men and women who go to work each day committed to safely and responsibly developing our natural gas resources.
“It is offensive to the men and women of our skilled building trades who we rely on to construct and maintain our critical energy infrastructure.
“It is offensive to the 280,000 royalty owners across Pennsylvania that wish to enjoy the benefits of their property rights.
“It is offensive to the five million Pennsylvanians who rely on natural gas to heat their homes.
“And it is offensive to all of us that rely on affordable, domestic, and clean energy resources each and every day of our lives.”
Click Here for a copy of Henderson’s written testimony.
Regulations Nearly A Decade Old
“Rigorous environmental oversight” with continuous improvement in Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Regulatory Program is not possible when--
-- Pennsylvania’s most current law regulating all oil and gas development is Act 13 enacted in 2012-- more than 13 years ago.
-- DEP’s Chapter 78a environmental protection regulations for shale gas operations have not changed since October 8, 2016 to reflect current problems-- more than 9 years ago.
-- DEP’s Oil and Gas Regulatory Program staff was frozen at 190 in December 2016-- nearly 9 years ago, according to DEP budget information in March. [More federally-funded positions added for well plugging program.]
-- Meanwhile DEP’s workload continues to grow-- the number of drilled shale gas wells grew 43.5% since 2016. Read more here.
-- DEP’s Chapter 78 environmental protection regulations for conventional oil and gas operations have not changed since August 1, 1987-- more than 38 years ago. In fact, Gov. Wolf signed legislation into law killing a 2016 comprehensive update. Read more here.
DEP’s regulations and the law do not reflect what has been learned about how shale gas development impacts people, their health and the environment since 2012 or about how to better protect people and the environment.
Over $158.3 Million In Penalties, Restitution
The compliance history of the shale gas industry and the related petrochemical industry in Pennsylvania is highlighted by criminal convictions and a record $158.3 million in penalties and restitution for environmental and safety violations imposed by state agencies. Read more here.
Just in the last five years, nine shale gas-related companies have been convicted of criminal charges by the state Attorney General for environmental violations in Pennsylvania, including CNX Resources Corporation; Coterra Energy, Inc.; ETC Northeast Pipeline LLC [Energy Transfer Partners]; Sunoco Pipeline LP [Energy Transfer Partners]; Greylock Production, LLC; Inflection Energy; Range Resources; Shell Falcon Pipeline, LP; and Southeast Directional Drilling.
And more companies have been charged-- like Seneca Resources with 64 counts of illegal dumping of shale gas waste in eight counties on October 31. Read more here.
In March, DEP reported the number of complaints about water supply contamination are increasing, noting during 2023 and 2024, DEP received a total of 575 new water supply/stray gas complaints from the public. Read more here.
DEP also reported it often takes two to three years to investigate complaints to find those responsible [due to staff shortages].
Declaring A Disaster Emergency
On June 23, 2025, Freeport Township Supervisors in Greene County took the extraordinary step of declaring a Disaster Emergency after residents impacted by a gas related water contamination event have been without permanent water supplies for three years. Read more here.
On August 7, 2025, Springhill Township Supervisors in Greene County adopted and now filed a Disaster Emergency Declaration after their residents were impacted by a gas related water contamination event that left homes without permanent water supplies for three years. Read more here.
Local officials expressed a concern they did not want to end up like Dimock Township, Susquehanna County that had to wait 20 years after shale gas contamination was discovered in their water supplies to get permanent replacement water. Read more here.
The same shale gas company that plead no contest to a criminal charge for contaminating Dimock’s water supplies, was fined $299,000 in June 2025 for polluting 13 more supplies just a short distance away in Lenox Township Susquehanna County. Read more here.
Abandoned Shale Gas Wells Increasing
So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 67 violations to 21 shale gas drilling companies for abandoning and not plugging their wells. Most of the wells abandoned are wells drilled in the early days of shale gas, prior to 2013. Read more here.
In 2024, 47 violations were issued or continued to 12 shale gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
Shales gas well owners are also beginning to play the same games as conventional oil and gas well owners-- transferring older wells with plugging liability to other companies that may have fewer resources to deal with the issues.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette documented the practice in a 2022 article. Read more here.
‘Widespread’ Conventional Oil/Gas Well Noncompliance
In June 2025 and December 2022, DEP documented repeated, ‘widespread’ non-compliance by conventional oil and gas well owners that the agency called a “culture of non-compliance.”
First and foremost is the “routine” abandonment of conventional oil and gas wells to let taxpayers pay for plugging. Read more here.
So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 634 violations to 123 conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells. Read more here.
In 2024, DEP issued 860 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
Other major non-compliance includes--
-- Road Dumping Wastewater: Indiscriminate road dumping of conventional oil and gas wastewater continues unabated on dirt, gravel and paved roads in conventional drilling communities. Read more here.
-- Waste Generation/Production Reports: 85% of conventional owners failed to submit 2024 annual reports on production and how much waste they generated and how it was disposed of-- 4,204 conventional well owners failed to submit covering 23,708 wells, 753 well owners covering 81,396 wells that did report. Read more here.
-- Well Integrity Reports: 87% of conventional well owners failed to submit 2024 annual well integrity reports critical to detect and prevent wells from leaking-- 4,314 conventional well owners failed to submit covering 24,620 wells, 638 well owners did submit covering 77,647 wells that did report. Read more here.
-- Methane Reduction: More than 99% of conventional oil and gas well owners failed to comply with 2022 VOC/methane reduction regulations. Read more here.
In October 2023, Gov. Shapiro said Pennsylvania needs stronger laws to deal with the “corporate greed” that let oil and gas well owners get away with abandoning wells for far too long. Read more here.
Gov. Shapiro said, “Today, Pennsylvania is now facing the consequences of this corporate greed, of this legacy, of an industry that made a buck off of our natural resources and got away with abandoning gas wells without properly plugging them.
“I've directed the Department of Environmental Protection to take any and all necessary enforcement actions against these companies to be able to recover what we can from them to support this important work."
“I'd like to see our state laws be much stronger when it comes to being able to tackle pollution and contamination left behind by greedy executives.
“Look, I was Attorney General for six years prior to being governor, I haven't met too many greedy corporate executives who are happy to pay up, but I'm pretty damn dogged.
“We will go after them and we will hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
“You are correct in identifying the fact that our laws could be strengthened, that the dollars required when industry comes in for bonding and what have you, should be increased and we need to do a better job going forward in Pennsylvania to hold polluters accountable and to make sure that that imbalance that exists between the power of corporations and the power of the people gets rebalanced.
“That's something I've focused on throughout my whole career, and I'm going to continue to do that work as governor.”
[So far, legislation has not been considered to accomplish this goal.]
State Health Department Apologizes
In 2023, after the first rigorous state review of the health impacts of the shale gas industry on communities, the state Health Department issued an unprecedented apology to residents for not taking their concerns more seriously. Read more here.
A study commissioned by the Health Department and done by the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health found there is a link between shale gas development and making asthma conditions worse; an increased risk of childhood lymphoma cancer; and slightly lower birth weights. Read more here.
Kristen Rodack, Executive Deputy Secretary of the Health Department, said “I think the Department of Health certainly is making a concerted effort to be more transparent and to be listening to the community more frequently and more often.
“And I think certainly I know that the feeling is that we have not done that in the past. So I will apologize on behalf of the department for maybe not doing that as well in the past.”
“I think you hit the nail on the head when you said this is just the tip of an iceberg. Certainly a start of a conversation here for the Department of Health.”
Since then, the Health Department, Penn State Health and others have been training medical professionals how to identify health impacts from shale gas development using real-life case studies in the training. Read more here.
Rodack said, “I think these studies really help advance our understanding of the potential health impacts of hydraulic fracturing, and they really add to a growing body of research in this space,” said Rodack. “The results were not necessarily surprising to folks who pay attention to this type of work.
“I think they were consistent with a lot of the research that has happened in this space and really just add to the push to governments and other folks to take action on some of the potential exposures that's happening from the industry.” Read more here.
Living With Shale Gas - Pictures Shook On The Walls
On November 17, the House Environmental Committee also heard first-person accounts of what it was like living with shale gas well pads 500 feet from your home.
Michelle Stonemark and her family live 523 feet from the George Augustine shale gas well pad in Cecil Township.
“The biggest issue during that time was the anxiety we all felt. It was like living in constant fear. We would hear a loud noise that sounded like gun shots, massive clanging in the middle of the night and lived in fear that something was wrong at the pad that would cause us harm,” she said.
“What we experienced during the first wave of drilling was magnified exponentially [in a second wave]. The smells, the trucks, and especially the noise all seemed to increase. This round of drilling was nothing short of unbearable,” said Stonemark.
“Imagine sitting at a red light and a car with its bass on very high pulls up next to you. That thumping sound can be felt in your chest and head, and the change in your cupholder will rattle. Those are DBCs. And that is what was being emitted from the Augustine well pad,” explained Stonemark.
“Pictures shook on walls, tools would clang in the garage and water would shake in a glass on the table. We couldn’t sleep in certain rooms in the house including our master bedroom.”
“Increasing the setbacks would not only help to protect residents from the bright lights, heavy flaring, awful smells and massive truck traffic, but it would also make a huge difference in the noise problems associated with unconventional drilling.”
Click Here for Michele Stonemark’s written testimony.
Very similar concerns were expressed in an October 30, 2023 hearing on setbacks also by the House Environmental Committee. Read more here.
This was the first hearing ever held on the setback issue by the General Assembly in the 20 years of shale gas development in the state.
Character Attacks, Death Threats
On November 17, Cindy Fisher, a Cecil Township Supervisor in Washington County, told the House Committee how her community took nine months and held hearings to document the impacts of shale gas development on residents before adopting an ordinance increasing setbacks in November 2024. Read more here.
“After nearly 9 months of hearings Cecil Township Board of Supervisors in a 3-0-2 vote passed a setback of 2,500 feet from occupied structures with the option for residents to sign a waiver to allow it closer (it cannot exceed the state setback of 500 feet),” said Fisher.
“If they know the risks and choose to allow development closer than they would be permitted to do so.
“We do however have an obligation to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents who do not want to live in close proximity to Oil and Gas development and we could not in good conscience vote to allow it any closer than 2,500 feet.”
“That's the whole purpose of zoning. You can't do something on your land or your property that harms your neighbor.”
“Immediately after enacting the ordinance Cecil was met with lawsuits by two large
companies in the industry, as well as more open records requests than our small township staff can deal with.
“I believe the goal of this is to try to force us to back down from our position of protecting residents with greater setbacks by forcing us to spend money on legal fees they think we can’t afford,” said Fisher. “In a lot of other municipalities these tactics have worked.”
Fisher said, in addition to the litigation and other tactics-- “Those of us that made this decision have had to deal with character attacks, death threats. But it's more than a township supervisor should have to say.”
“At the end of the day it comes down to this. I have spent a significant amount of time learning about things I need to know about to be able to help residents in Cecil Township,” said Fisher.
“Other municipalities and other supervisors may not do this. To be frank, it shouldn’t be my job.
“That is why I am here today to ask you to take the same stance Cecil did and protect all residents in Pennsylvania with increase the setbacks.”
Click Here for Supervisor Fisher’s written testimony.
The ‘Harsh Reality’ Of Shale Gas Operations
Seven years ago people from more than 70 households began testifying to a Statewide Grand Jury about the impacts of the shale gas industry on their health, their lives and their communities. Read more here.
Five years ago (2020) , the Statewide Grand Jury issued its report documenting these impacts in a way the jurors-- ordinary Pennsylvanians-- said, “provided us with a sound and detailed understanding of the realities of this industry and the problems associated with fracking in our Commonwealth.”
“We were moved by the profoundly emotional experiences many have endured.
“Often, their pain was still raw, but they nevertheless testified and taught us about the sometimes harsh reality of shale gas operations.
“While we cannot truly capture what it was like to witness their testimony, all those reading this report should understand that we find the testimony of these homeowners credible and compelling.”
“While each homeowner's experience was unique, they were in many ways similar, regardless of whether they lived in the same township or hundreds of miles from one another.
“Indeed, many of their accounts were remarkably consistent.
“Dozens of people experienced the same medical symptoms in association with the same oil and gas activity.
“Parents invariably feared what exposure to fracking operations posed to their children's health and future, as any parent would.
“There are simply too many people who have suffered similar harms in communities throughout Pennsylvania where fracking occurs to disregard the damage caused by this industry's operations.
“This reality necessitates laws and regulations capable of protecting those put at risk by fracking, and a government willing to enforce them.
“For too long, Pennsylvania has failed to live up to its responsibility to its people in both respects.”
“We are not “anti”-fracking. The purpose of this Report is to present an account of the impacts of an industry that will affect Pennsylvanians for decades to come.
“We are aware that unconventional drilling brings significant economic benefits. But if the activity is to be permitted, it still must be regulated appropriately, in ways that prevent reckless harms.
“Instead, we believe that our government often ignored the costs to the environment and to the health and safety of the citizens of the Commonwealth, in a rush to reap the benefits of this industry.”
The Grand Jury made recommendations to address issues raised by the testimony it received and not dealt with by current law and regulations, including increasing setback distances from well pads to 2,500 feet. Read more here.
DEP’s Actions Limited By Inadequate Laws
The Wolf Administration said in reaction to the Grand Jury Report-- "Governor Tom Wolf shares the Attorney General’s commitment to upholding Pennsylvania’s constitutional promise of clean air, pure water, and to protecting public health.
“Many of the recommendations in the report either mirror activities that the administration already has in place or it supports as additional actions by the legislature. We stand ready to assist helping the legislature in developing language to address the concerns raised by the report.” Read more here.
DEP’s reaction to the Grand Jury Report, included in the report, was prepared by an outside law firm-- Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP.
The conclusion in the DEP reaction was-- “Although the grand jury believed it was advancing the public good in preparing and planning to publicize its report, it actually does the public a disservice.
“The inaccuracies in the report provide Pennsylvania’s citizens with a false picture of DEP and encouraging them to believe their government is incompetent and/or places the economic well-being of various corporations above their health and well-being and that of the Commonwealth’s public natural resources.”
At the same time, DEP’s response said-- "For certain, there have been and will continue to be concerns related to the impacts of unconventional gas development on the health and safety of the Commonwealth's citizens and our environment.
“DEP shares these concerns and is committed to continually improving the regulatory program to better protect and serve the citizens of the Commonwealth.” (Page 4 of reaction)
DEP also took great pains and three pages in its reaction to describe how the agency’s ability to take actions to respond to issues or take actions to solve problems is limited by the laws it administers.
In particular, noting that the state’s Environmental Rights Amendment “does not give the Governor or the agencies the power to expand their authority beyond the laws passed by the Legislature.” (Page 6 of reaction)
“At each step in the [regulatory adoption] process, proposed regulations are scrutinized for consistency with the laws they are intended to implement and regulatory rule makings that are found to go "too far" and to exceed the statutory authority are not approved. (Page 7)
“Pennsylvania law is clear that policies do not function like laws that can be enforced. An agency may not create binding rules to limit activities of individuals or industry without having been given the power to do so by the Legislature through statutes, and without having gone through the regulatory rulemaking process.
“In fact, it is unlawful for DEP to apply a policy to an industry as though it were a statute or promulgated regulation.” (Page 8) Read more here.
Stronger Regulations Based On Grand Jury Report
On November 23, 2023, Gov. Shapiro said he directed DEP to adopt several new regulations on the oil and gas industry--
-- New regulations on the disclosure of chemicals used in drilling [not proposed yet]
-- New regulations for controlling methane emissions aligned with then federal policy [new regulations proposed, not finalized];
-- New regulations on stronger drilling waste protections, including inspection of secondary containment; and corrosion protections for gathering lines that transport natural gas [not proposed yet].
Gov. Shapiro also said, “we’re urging the Legislature to respond to today’s announcement by finally acting to implement the grand jury’s recommendations across our Commonwealth.”
Gov. Shapiro also issued a statement in April 2023 offering his support for recommendations in the Grand Jury Report.
[The recommendations include, obviously, increasing setback distances.]
“For years, powerful oil and gas companies have aligned with pro-polluting lawmakers to block critical safety legislation.
“It’s high time for floor votes on legislation, championed by pro-environment leaders in Harrisburg, designed to improve the safety and public health of the children and families impacted by fracking wells.”
In June 2023, DEP sent and email to House members expressing its support for House Bill 170 (Otten-D-Chester) establishing 2,500 foot or 5,000 foot setbacks or safety zones from natural gas compressor stations, well pads, pits, storage tanks, wastewater, chemicals, condensate and other waste as recommended in the Grand Jury Report. Read more here.
However, Acting Secretary Richard Negrin at his Senate confirmation hearing backed away from that email saying he wasn’t familiar with the bill.
He explained--”My first week in office here, I created a working group around the recommendations made around that grand jury report.
“I've had a team, my chief counsel, Carolina DiGiorgio, who's present, has been leading that effort from our perspective, to take a look at those recommendations.
“We expect to be rolling out and looking at our findings on the basis of those recommendations probably by the end of the summer.
“We're giving it a very careful review in terms of those recommendations, and what, if anything, we should be doing to implement those.”
[Those recommendations have not been announced.]
House Bill 170 was due to be considered by the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee June 27, 2023, but House Democratic leadership blocked the Committee from considering the bill. Read more here.
Written Testimony/Comments
Written testimony and comments offered to the Committee included--
-- Cindy Fisher, Supervisor, Cecil Township, Washington County
-- Michele Stonemark, Resident, Cecil Township
-- Lois Bower-Bjornson, Frackland Tours, Clean Air Council
-- Dr. Edward Ketyer, President, Physicians For Social Responsibility - PA [PPT Slides]
-- Patrick Henderson, Vice President, Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition
-- Melissa Ostroff, Policy & Field Advocate, EarthWorks
Other written comments--
-- Environmental Health Project - Health Impacts From Shale Gas Development
-- Environmental Health Project - Research Review - Asthma Exacerbations
-- Environmental Health Project - Research Review - Adverse Birth Outcomes
-- Environmental Health Project - Research Review Childhood Lymphoma
-- Barbara W. Brandom, MD, Concerned Health Professionals Of PA
-- Stuart Day, Lawrence County Resident
-- PA Chamber of Business & Industry
-- American Petroleum Institute - Pennsylvania
Hearing Video
Click Here to watch the hearing video.
Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7647 or sending email to: gvitali@pahouse.net. Rep. Jack Rader, Jr. (R-Monroe) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7732 or click here to send an email.
PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Nov. 8 to 14 - One Owner Abandons 36 Conventional Wells; Failed To Cleanup Shale Gas Spill For 498 Days [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Violations To Rock Oil Resources LLC For Abandoning, Not Plugging 36 Conventional Oil & Gas Wells For 639 Days And Counting In Venango County [PaEN]
Related Articles - House Hearing:
-- 500 Feet Isn’t Enough - House Hearing I: Shale Gas Industry Says Setbacks Won’t Protect Residents, Public Health, Environment From Shale Gas Operations, Only ‘Rigorous Oversight’ Will; Standards Have Not Changed In 9 Years [PaEN]
-- 500 Feet Isn't Enough- House Hearing II: As A Township Supervisor We Have An Obligation To Protect The Health, Safety And Welfare Of Our Township Residents From Shale Gas Development [PaEN]
-- 500 Feet Isn't Enough - House Hearing III: What It’s Really Like Living Next To A Shale Gas Well Pad - Nosebleeds, Headaches, Nausea, Air Pollution, Vibrating House, Sleepless Nights, Anxiety, Truck Traffic [PaEN]Resource Links - Setbacks:
-- 500 Feet Isn’t Enough: 42 Scientific Studies, 20+ Years Of Experience With Shale Gas Drilling In PA; A State Grand Jury Report; Criminal Convictions; Public Complaints; Lawsuits; Media Reports All Document The Need To Increase Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells [PaEN]
-- 500 Feet Isn’t Enough: Michelle Stonemark Tells What It’s Really Like Living Next To A Shale Gas Well Pad - Nosebleeds, Headaches, Nausea, Air Pollution, Vibrating House, Sleepless Nights, Anxiety - In Cecil Twp., Washington County [PaEN]
-- 500 Feet Isn't Enough: Environmental Groups Urge Environmental Quality Board To Accept Rulemaking Petition For Study Increasing Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells [PaEN]
-- House Environmental Committee To Hold Oct. 30 Hearing On Bill Increasing Setback Safety Zones From Shale Natural Gas Drilling Sites, Infrastructure Based On Latest Science, Grand Jury Report [Background on the Issue] [PaEN]
Resource Links - Cecil Township:
-- Cecil Township Supervisors In Washington County Adopt 2,500 Setback From Shale Gas Well Pads From Homes, Businesses, 5,000 Foot Setback From Hospitals, Schools [November 2024]
-- Range Resources And MarkWest Liberty Midstream File Legal Challenges To The 2,500 Foot Shale Gas Facility Setback Ordinance Adopted By Cecil Township, Washington County [January 2025]
Resource Links - Health, Environmental Impacts:
-- Environmental Health Project Releases New White Paper: PA's Shale Gas - What We Can Do Now To Better Protect Public Health [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project: Lois Bower-Bjornson Shares Her First-Hand Experiences With Shale Gas Health, Environmental Impacts In Washington County [PaEN]
-- State Dept. Of Health Apologizes For Not Listening To Communities Suffering Health Impacts From Shale Gas Development; New Health Study Results ‘Just The Tip Of The Iceberg’ [August 2023]
-- University Of Pittsburgh School Of Public Health Studies Find Shale Gas Wells Can Make Asthma Worse; Children Have An Increased Chance Of Developing Lymphoma Cancer; Slightly Lower Birth Weights [August 2023]
-- State Dept. Of Health Invites Citizens To File Environmental Health Complaints Related To Natural Gas Development; Health Will Also Review Environmental Test Results [September 2023]
-- State Dept. Of Health Pushing For Changes To Reduce Adverse Health Impacts From Natural Gas Development [November 2023]
-- New State Health Plan Identifies Health Issues Related To Natural Resource Extraction, Climate Change In Top 5 Threats To Health Outcomes [April 2023]
-- 2025 PA Shale Gas & Public Health Conference Attended By Nearly 480 People Featured Health Experts, Scientists, Advocacy Groups On Health, Environmental Impacts Of Shale Gas Development [February 2025]
-- Presentations Now Available From 2022 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference In Nov. Hosted By PA League Of Women Voters & University Of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health [December 2022]
-- Fact Sheet: How Oil and Gas Operations Impact Your Baby’s Health
-- Frackland Video Tour, with Lois Bower-Bjornson, Clean Air Council
-- Senate Hearing: Body Of Evidence Is 'Large, Growing,’ ‘Consistent’ And 'Compelling' That Shale Gas Development Is Having A Negative Impact On Public Health; PA Must Act [June 2022]
-- House Committee Hearing On Increasing Safety Setbacks Zones Around Natural Gas Facilities Heard About First-Hand Citizen Experiences On Health Impacts, From Physicians On Health Studies And The Gas Industry On Job Impacts [October 2023]
-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Calls Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’ [October 2023]
-- Senators Santarsiero, Comitta Introduce SB 581 Increasing Setback Safety Zones From Natural Gas Drilling Sites, Other Infrastructure, Based On Latest Science [January 2024]
Resource Links - Local Impacts Of Oil & Gas Development:
-- Freeport Township Declares Disaster Emergency After Residents Impacted By A Gas Related Water Contamination Event Have Been Without Permanent Water Supplies For 3 Years-- We’re Not Blaming Anybody, We Just Want Good, Clean Drinking Water [August 2025]
-- Springhill Township Becomes 2nd Township To Declare Disaster Emergency After Residents Were Impacted By A Gas Related Water Contamination Event In Greene County [August 2025]
-- Observer-Reporter: Study Shows Probable Link Between Freeport Twp. Water Well Contamination And Fracking In Greene County [PDF of Article]
-- Independent Research Study By Pitt, Duquesne Ties Water Well Contamination To Shale Gas Drilling In 2 Greene County Townships That Declared Water Disaster Emergencies [9.17.25]
-- PA American Water Identifies Water Source For New Public Water System To Replace Water Wells Contaminated By Shale Gas Fracking 20 Years Ago In Dimock Twp., Susquehanna County [3.13.25]
-- Coterra Energy Fined $299,000 For Contaminating 13 Private Water Supplies In Lenox Twp., Susquehanna County - Just A Few Miles From Dimock [7.29.25]
-- Late Night Road Dumping: Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Continues To Be Dumped On Dirt, Gravel, Paved Roads; DEP Expected To Provide Update At April 24 Meeting [4.9.25]
-- PA Environment Digest: Click Here to learn more about oil and gas industry impacts.
Resource Links - Oil & Gas Compliance:
-- Criminal Convictions; Record Penalties, Restitution Of Over $158.3 Million Highlight Big Shale Gas, Related Petrochemical Industry Compliance History In Pennsylvania [March 2025]
-- DEP Reports 575 Water Supply/Stray Gas Complaints About Oil & Gas Operations In Last 2 Years; Investigation Can Take A Year, Sometimes 2-3 To Find Those Responsible [March 2025]
-- Freeport Township Declares Disaster Emergency After Residents Impacted By A Gas Related Water Contamination Event Have Been Without Permanent Water Supplies For 3 Years-- We’re Not Blaming Anybody, We Just Want Good, Clean Drinking Water [August 2025]
-- Springhill Township Becomes 2nd Township To Declare Disaster Emergency After Residents Were Impacted By A Gas Related Water Contamination Event In Greene County [August 2025]
-- Daily Grind Living Next To Oil & Gas Industry: Spills, Polluted Water Supplies, Smells Like Gas, Noise, Air Pollution, Explosions, Truck Traffic, Erosion, Radioactive Waste, Gas Flares, Dust, Lights, Road Dumping Waste, Abandoned Wells [March 2025]
-- AG Shapiro: Grand Jury Finds Pennsylvania Failed To Protect Citizens During Natural Gas Fracking Boom [June 2022]
-- Senate Hearing: First-Hand Account Of Health, Environmental Impacts From Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater - ‘Inhaling Oil & Gas Wastewater 24-Hours A Day’ [April 2024]
-- House Hearing: A First-Hand Account Of How Repeated, Unlimited Road Dumping Of Oil & Gas Drilling Wastewater Is Tearing Apart Dirt Roads And Creating Multiple Environmental Hazards [June 2024]
-- House Hearing: Penn State Expert Says ‘Pennsylvania Should Ban Road Spreading Of Oil & Gas Wastewater;’ Contaminants Exceed Health, Environmental Standards [June 2024]
PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Nov. 15 to 21: Fails To Restore Shale Gas Well Pad For 1,418 Days; Fails To Clean Up Spills At 2 Conventional Wells For 1,038 Days; Owner Abandons 35 Conventional Wells [PaEN]
-- DEP: Crude Oil Released From Failed Conventional Oil Well Gathering Line Travels Nearly Length Of 2 Football Fields In Hamilton Twp., McKean County [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 22 [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permit For 8 Million Gallon EQT Midstream Oil & Gas Wastewater Storage Facility In Jackson Twp., Greene County [PaEN]
-- DEP Accepting Comments On Renewal Of Phase II Acid Rain Air Quality Permit For The 750 MW Natural Gas Marcus Hook Energy Power Plant, Delaware County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Comments Now Being Accepted For Renewal Of Title V Air Quality Permit For Hunterstown Power, LLC Natural Gas Power Plant In Adams County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Renewal Of Title V Air Quality Permit For The Energy Center Fuel Oil/Natural Gas Power Plant Serving Downtown Harrisburg Heating District, Dauphin County [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 55 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 22 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- 500 Feet Isn’t Enough - House Hearing I: Shale Gas Industry Says Setbacks Won’t Protect Residents, Public Health, Environment From Shale Gas Operations, Only ‘Rigorous Oversight’ Will; Standards Have Not Changed In 9 Years [PaEN]
-- 500 Feet Isn't Enough- House Hearing II: As A Township Supervisor We Have An Obligation To Protect The Health, Safety And Welfare Of Our Township Residents From Shale Gas Development [PaEN]
-- 500 Feet Isn't Enough - House Hearing III: What It’s Really Like Living Next To A Shale Gas Well Pad - Nosebleeds, Headaches, Nausea, Air Pollution, Vibrating House, Sleepless Nights, Anxiety, Truck Traffic [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Air Permit For Largest Natural Gas Power Plant In US To Feed Proposed 3,200 Acre Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus In Indiana County [PaEN]
-- Montour County Planning Commission Recommends Against Talen Energy Request To Rezone 870 Acres For A Natural Gas Power Plant Expansion To Feed A.I. Data Centers [PaEN]
-- PUC Invites Comments On Proposed Model Tariff To Balance A.I. Data Center Growth And Ratepayer Protection [PaEN]
-- PUC: Natural Gas Utility Winter Reliability Reports Forecast Slightly Higher Usage, Costs [PaEN]
-- Dept. Of Human Services Begins Accepting Applications For Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Dec. 3, After Federal Shutdown Delay [PaEN]
-- PUC Directs Staff To Develop Rule On Winter Terminations, Payment Arrangements, Other Consumer Protections
-- North American Electric Reliability Corp: Electric Grid At Elevated Risk Of Insufficient Energy Supplies During Extreme Weather Due To Rising A.I. Data Center Demands, 'Precarious' Natural Gas Supplies [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - November 24 [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Inquirer: How An Energy Transfer/Sunoco Petroleum Products Pipeline Leak Disrupted A Quiet Bucks County Neighborhood: ‘Never Drink The Water’ [PDF of Article]
-- The Center Square: Lawsuits Target Northeast Supply Enhancement Natural Gas Pipeline From PA To NY Backed By President
-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Bellwether District- Site Of Former Philadelphia Refinery-- Could Soon Announce Its First Tenants
-- WITF/LancasterOnline: Mild Forecast For PA Winter Heating Bills In Peril As Natural Gas Prices Surge
-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: UGI Gas Company Contributes $500,000 For Customers Struggling To Pay Heating Bills
-- Post-Gazette/AP: New Analysis Shows More US Consumers Are Falling Behind On Their Utility Bills
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: PUC Proposes Special Treatment For A.I. Data Center Power Connections To Contain The Cost Burden On Existing Ratepayers [PDF of Article]
-- York Daily Record: Where Does York County Rank In Electricity Production Across PA & US (Really High) [Data Center Series] [PDF of Article]
-- Utility Dive: PJM Members Fail To Agree On A.I. Data Center Interconnection Rules; Board May Develop A Proposal, But Timing Unclear
-- The Center Square: Consensus For Soaring A.I. Data Center Power Demands Still Elusive Among PJM Members
-- The Center Square: ‘Ghost’ A.I. Data Center Projects Haunt PJM Power Grid Planners, Raising Energy Costs
-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp: Winter Peak Demand Is Rising Faster Than Resource Additions
-- WHYY: PJM Electrical Grid To Decide Who Pays Bill For Massive A.I. Data Centers
-- PA Capital-Star: A.I. Data Center Growth Drives Communities In PA, Other States To Fight For More Say
-- Reuters: US A.I. Data Center Demand Raising Power Risks This Winter, NERC Says
-- Bloomberg: US Faces Winter Blackout Risks From A.I. Data Centers’ Power Needs, NERC Says
-- WFMZ: Montour County Planning Commission Votes Against Talen Energy Rezoning Request
-- York Daily Record: Where Does York County Rank In Electricity Production Across PA & US (Really High) [Data Center Series] [PDF of Article]
-- Utility Dive: FERC OKs NRG’s 19 GW Purchase Of LS Power Gas-Fired [5 In PA], Demand Response Assets; BP Wind Energy Sale Also Approved [PA Wind Farm]
-- US Dept. Of Energy Closes On $1 Billion Taxpayer Funded Loan To Constellation Energy To Finance Restart Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant To Power Microsoft A.I. Data Centers [Company Originally Claimed No Taxpayer Money Would Be Used To Restart The Plant]
-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: President’s Energy Dept. Approves $1 Billion Loan For Three Mile Island Nuclear Reactor Restart [Federal Legislation Makes Taxpayer Funding Available]
-- AP: US DOE Loans $1 Billion To Help Finance Restart Of Three Mile Island Nuclear Reactor [Company Originally Claimed No Taxpayer Money Would Be Used To Restart The Plant]
[Posted: November 18, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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