Those voting against accepting the petition for study were representatives of Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) and Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron); PUC Commissioner Kathryn Zerfuss taking a position on behalf of the Commission; and Thaddeus Stevens and John St. Clair from DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council.
Three rulemaking petitions submitted by the oil and gas industry were also accepted for study on setting the “attainable bottom” when plugging wells; changing the requirements for where oil and gas wastewater can be stored and processed for reuse in drilling operations; and allowing electronic copies of emergency plans.
The Board also accepted a fifth petition for study by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Natural Lands, and North Pocono Citizens Alert Regarding the Environment to redesignate Shades Creek Watershed in Luzerne County from High Quality to Exceptional Value.
Although DEP recommended all the petitions be accepted for study, DEP said during the consideration of each petition it has not reviewed any of the substantive issues raised in the petitions, but has determined the actions proposed in the petitions are actions that could be taken by the Board.
DEP was also clear that accepting the petitions for study does not infer a promulgation of a rulemaking will ultimately take place.
DEP is required to make a status report to the Board on its review of the petitions within 60 days of accepting the petitions or at the next Board meeting.
DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley, who chairs the Board, said the next Board meeting is scheduled for February 10.
The 20 member Environmental Quality Board has the authority to adopt regulations administered by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Board members include representatives of 11 state agencies: the departments of Environmental Protection (Chair), Agriculture, Health, Community and Economic Development, the Public Utility Commission, the Fish and Boat Commission, the Game Commission, Labor and Industry, the Governor's Office of Policy, the Historical and Museum Commission, Transportation; five members of the DEP Citizens Advisory Council and four members of the Senate and House.
Setback Petition
On October 22, 2024, the Clean Air Council and Environmental Integrity Project submitted a 358-page rulemaking petition to increase setbacks from shale gas wells from 500 feet to a minimum of 3,281 feet from buildings and drinking water wells, 5,280 feet from schools, daycares and hospitals and 750 feet from any surface water. Read more here.
In November 2024, determined the petition was complete and could be considered by the Board for acceptance for study.
In April, 2025, the EQB Tabled discussion of the petition to allow further review of information submitted to the Board at the last minute by the shale gas industry. Read more here.
At the December 8 meeting this week, Glendon King, representing Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron), questioned the procedure for bringing the petition back to the Board when it was Tabled by the Board in April.
Secretary Shirley explained the motion to Table "expired" after three months according to Roberts Rules of Order. In addition, she said the petitioners submitted a new petition in September with additional supporting documents which is the issue on the agenda before the Board.
Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), who made the motion to accept the setback petition for study, said, “The negative impacts of fracking on the health of nearby residents and families are well documented. These are not new concerns. They have unfortunately gone on for years.
“This makes it all the more dangerous and deserving of action. The stories of children and parents falling ill and families being forced to leave their homes are heartbreaking.
We cannot and should not turn our backs on them.
“Clearly, there is a problem.
“As the 43rd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury concluded in its report, there is one point that is impossible to deny, the closer people happen to live to a massive industrial drilling complex, the worse it is likely to be for them.
“If a jury of our peers can look at this issue and make these recommendations, this board can allow this petition to move forward.”
Glendon King, representing Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron) said, “We've heard from certain parties endlessly that the Department needs more staff and resources to adequately complete the mission and to allow the Department staff's time to be wasted on a petition of this caliber and danger is so completely unacceptable at this point in time.”
“I think the legal question just couldn't be more clear. The Department has already analyzed this issue. None of the cases cited by the petitioner remotely changed the analysis in this case.
“The department has voiced in the past that setbacks were set by the General Assembly very clearly, and they can only be modified by the General Assembly.
“So this petition should be stopped before it was even placed on the agenda in the petition policy where it says this petition requests an action that the EQB can take.
“The Department could save itself a lot of time and resources and headache by just using that part of the petition policy to address this petition.”
[Note: The petitioner said, “Nothing in the Oil and Gas Act states that the current setbacks are a maximum, and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has stated that Section 3215, which includes the current setbacks, permits agencies to go farther.
[“Industry’s claim that this Board lacks the authority to act on this petition is not supported by these laws.
[“The [state] Oil and Gas Act, Clean Streams Law and Air Pollution Control Act give EQB the authority and mandate to promulgate regulations to protect health and the environment.
[“The agency's duties under the Pennsylvania Constitution to conserve and maintain Pennsylvania resources further bolster this authority.” Read more here.
[“Don't believe the false narrative that protective buffers would ban fracking.
[It would move new fracking sites outside of people's backyards and further away from water wells.
[Industry has been drilling five-mile laterals in practice, so requiring new fracking wells to be one kilometer from buildings, 750 feet from streams and a mile from schools and hospitals is well within their abilities and usual practices and will not infringe on their ability to reach the gas they seek to extract.] Read more here.
PUC Commissioner Kathryn Zerfuss explained her vote by saying, “Upon thorough review and consideration, I wanted to state that the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has taken an agency position to vote no on the petition because of our concerns on the potential impact on resource adequacy.
“So we all know that we have many challenges as it relates to energy supply and demand, and the gap between supply and demand is just growing more and more every day.
“So the PUC doesn't want to put our thumb on the scale of any one source of energy.
“We totally maintain that we have to take advantage of every single molecule and electron we can from all energy sources, whether it's solar, wind, for our electric grid.
“And it's just a fact that natural gas power is well over 50% of our electric generation [actually it’s 60%].
“We're trying to be mindful of the mission of our public utilities-- it's to provide safe, reliable, and efficient service to Pennsylvania customers.
“And the mission of the PUC is to essentially ensure that that happens, and we all have to keep an eye on affordability.
“So if the lights go out and people are priced out of essential utility service, we've all failed at our missions.
“So the PUC just wants to say that we just want to continue to work collectively to see our way through the energy challenges that we're facing and be a partner working toward whatever the statewide strategy will be to meet the moment of affordability, reliability, like infrastructure modernization, economic development, of course, environmental protection.
“And we just don't think this is the time to use Commonwealth resources to advance a proposal or any proposals that have the potential to tie our hands behind our backs before we even get started.
“So I appreciate the moment to share the comments on behalf of the agency. And again, for these reasons, this is why the Public Utility Commission will respectfully be voting no.”
Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) responded to Commissioner Zerfuss’ comments, “I just wanted to relay discussions my staff had with [DEP] regulatory council for EQB yesterday. And that is that the EQB has the authority, after studying this matter, to make modifications, and those modifications certainly can consider resource adequacy.”
“But it's my understanding that, for example, if the EQB would find that rather than a 500-foot setback for buildings, a 700 setback for buildings was more appropriate, they would have the discretion to do that.
“So in addition to the point made by the petitioner with regard to the ability to drill laterally for several miles, I think that it is in the EQB's control in reviewing and modifying this petition to deal with the issue of resource adequacy.”
Glendon King, representing Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron) also said, “The EQB's agenda today demonstrates that the petition policy is broken and needs to be addressed. That can be addressed by a policy change. It can be addressed by a legislative change, and I would encourage the department to explore all possible avenues on that regards.”
[Note: Rep. Joshua Kail (R-Beaver) said at DEP’s budget hearing in March he thought it was “outrageous” DEP has a process where any citizen can petition the agency for a change in its regulations. Read more here.
[The EQB has had the authority to accept rulemaking petitions from anyone since October 10, 1980 when the General Assembly amended the Administrative Code of 1929 with this authority in Section 1920-A (h) as part of the process for obtaining federal primacy under the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.]
Secretary Shirley said in response to King’s comment on the petition process, DEP is looking at possible revisions to the petition process and will be discussing that with DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council at the next meeting.
Glendon King, representing Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron) also said, “So every single member of the [Shapiro] Administration who's taking a vote on this regulation right now, this petition, excuse me, right now, believes that it's important for policy or regulatory considerations to study essentially completely banning the extraction of natural gas in Pennsylvania.
“And at this time, considering the challenges our grid is facing, that is kind of just absolutely mind-blowing, that that's something that the Department feels from a policy standpoint that it's worthy of consideration.
“I could not be more strongly opposed to this petition, and I would encourage all members of the board to vote no, and again, to consider that you must consider the policy when you're voting here, the policy of banning natural gas extraction in the Commonwealth.”
Written Industry-Related Comments
The Environmental Quality Board received written comments opposing the petition on setbacks from the oil and gas industry and its supporters--
-- Marcellus Shale Coalition - Dec. 4
-- American Petroleum Institute - Pennsylvania - Dec. 8
-- PA House Republicans - Dec. 8
-- PA Chamber of Commerce - Dec. 9
Reactions To Accepting Petition For Study
Following action by the Board to accept the petition to increase setback safety zones from shale gas wells, these groups offered their reactions--
“Clean Air Council is thrilled to see the EQB do the right thing and allow DEP to study our petition,” said Alex Bomstein, Executive Director of Clean Air Council. “We are confident that the research supports these stronger protections and will convince DEP of the need to protect Pennsylvanians across the state from the serious dangers of fracking.”
“EQB took an important step today to protect the people of this Commonwealth from fracking pollution,” said Lisa Hallowell, Senior Attorney with the Environmental Integrity Project. “We hope DEP and EQB move quickly to require the minimum setbacks the petition seeks so that no more families have to suffer the health effects that have been documented in dozens of studies as a result of the woefully inadequate current setback distances.”
“Today was an important milestone for residents who have waited far too long for basic public health protections from fracking’s harms," said Melissa Ostroff, Pennsylvania Policy and Field Advocate with Earthworks. “EQB did the right thing in following DEP’s recommendation to move this petition to the next step in the regulatory process. Impacted residents deserve to see a report from DEP about increasing setback distances without delay.”
“Today’s vote represents an important step toward closing the large gap between science and policy in Pennsylvania,” said Alison L. Steele, Executive Director, Environmental Health Project. “What we know from dozens of peer-reviewed health studies is clear: while there is no established ‘safe’ distance from fracking operations, increasing the distance from those who live, work, and play nearby lowers the risk of negative health impacts. We look forward to the DEP’s review of relevant, unbiased research and a timely recommendation for setback requirements informed by scientific evidence.”
“Advancing this commonsense rulemaking petition to study the implications of stronger protective buffers is the first step towards protecting the health of 3.6 million Pennsylvanians who share their communities with fracked wells,” said Katie Jones, Ohio River Valley Coordinator at FracTracker Alliance. “Research shows that larger buffers are necessary to safeguard public health, and reviewing these protections enhances state oversight without prohibiting unconventional drilling.”
“Protect PT applauds the EQB’s sound decision to vote this petition forward for review by the DEP,” said Gillian Graber, Executive Director, Protect PT. “For the first time, the DEP will take health impacts into account when considering the statewide minimum drilling setback for unconventional wells, using the research that our coalition has compiled. We know the findings are impossible to ignore. It’s been a long time coming, but today marks a significant step closer to essential health protections for frontline communities like ours in Southwestern PA.”
“My family is not alone in knowing that fracking happens too close to our homes,” said Jodi Borello, Community Organizer, Center for Coalfield Justice. “Those of us who testified to the grand jury gave all we had to have the truth heard and still had to wait half a decade for action. As communities have suffered impacts to our health and homes and more children have gotten sick, we have been calling on anyone in power to finally stand up to this industry and bring meaningful, sensible solutions. The EQB’s ruling to expand buffer zones is a long overdue relief that will protect impacted communities and working families like mine. I am proud to be part of a coalition that never stopped fighting for the people most impacted by this industry.”
The groups said-- “fracking contaminates groundwater (used for public and private drinking water supplies) and also pollutes surface water, damaging headwater streams and other ecosystems. Furthermore, spills often occur in watersheds linked to drinking water sources and the air pollution from fracking causes illness.
“Dozens of peer-reviewed scientific studies show that a person’s proximity to fracking wells is associated with severe human health risks and a wide range of ailments, including increased cancer rates, increased hospitalization rates, and higher rates of respiratory, neurological, dermatological, and muscular symptoms.
“Vulnerable populations are particularly susceptible—numerous studies have shown that proximity to fracking wells harms health for infants and children.
“In addition to these studies, first-hand accounts of residents living near Pennsylvania fracking wells demonstrate the profound harms of living close to fracking.”
Marcellus Shale Coalition President Jim Welty issued the following statement after the Environmental Quality Board action--
[Warning: This MSC quote intentionally mischaracterizes the action taken by the EQB.]
“Today’s action by Governor Shapiro’s Administration to consider a ban on future natural gas development is extremely concerning, especially considering that he claims they’re doing everything possible to protect Pennsylvania consumers from rising electricity prices.
“It’s also an affront to the men and women who work tirelessly each day to meet Pennsylvania’s energy needs and the landowners whose property rights would be taken under this proposal.”
“This petition clearly seeks an action which is outside the legal authority of the EQB, and the decision today sends a chilling message to consumers, landowners and economic investors by threatening access to Pennsylvania’s reliable and affordable energy resources. It is both dangerous and shortsighted.”
Also On The EQB Agenda
Petition - Processing Of Oil & Gas Wastewater
On July 24, 2025, the Marcellus Shale Coalition submitted a rulemaking petition to the Department to change DEP’s Chapter 78a.58(a) regulations to “allow fluids from various oil and gas operations to be processed and stored at the site at which they are produced, at the well site where they are used or at a well site from which they are distributed to other wells sites for use in stimulating wells at those other sites.”
The other provisions of 25 PaCode Chapter 78a.58 (b through h) would remain the same.
If the change was adopted, the regulation would allow the driller to set up oil and gas wastewater and mine influenced water processing and storage facilities at any well site taking wastewater from any other well site to be processed and/or stored and then taken to any other well site for reuse.
The Board voted to accept the petition for study.
Petition - Oil & Gas Well Plugging Attainable Bottom
On April 23, 2025, the Department received a rulemaking petition submitted by the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance, and the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association.
This petition requests the Board promulgate a rulemaking to “clarify how attainable bottom is determined and how plugging [of wells] should proceed from that point.”
Discussion of “attainable bottom” has been going on for years with the conventional oil and gas industry which has disagreed with DEP’s definition that uses a set of criteria for determining when a well owner has cleaned out enough of a well being plugged to assure it can be successfully plugged to stop the flow of fluids and gas.
The Board voted to accept the petition for study.
Petition - Electronic Shale Gas Pad Emergency Plans
On September 23, 2025, the Department received a rulemaking petition submitted by the Marcellus Shale Coalition that requests the Board promulgate a rulemaking to allow for well operators to maintain Preparedness, Prevention and Contingency (PPC) plans electronically to provide for “frequent updates and easier access and utilization of records in electronic format on site.
The Board voted to accept the petition for study.
Petition - Shades Creek Watershed
On October 13, 2025, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Natural Lands, and North Pocono Citizens Alert Regarding the Environment submitted a petition for rulemaking to the the Department requesting to change the designation of the entire Shades Creek Watershed from the headwaters to the mouth and including all tributaries in Bear Creek and Buck Townships, Luzerne County from High Quality (HQ) to Exceptional Value (EV).
The Board voted to accept the petition for study.
Water/Wastewater Operator Fees
DEP provided a copy of the Three-Year Regulatory Fee and Program Cost Analysis Report to the Board for its review for the Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Program.
DEP recommends no changes to the fees and believes the current fees will be adequate to support the current program for the next three years.
Radiation Protection Fees
DEP provided a copy of the Three-Year Regulatory Fee and Program Cost Analysis Report to the Board for its review for the Radiation Protection Program covering x-ray machines, particle accelerators, radioactive material users and radon-related labs and business.
DEP recommends changes to the fees in the program because it is facing revenue shortfalls in the next three years.
For available handouts and more information, visit the Environmental Quality Board webpage. Questions should be directed to Laura Griffin, Regulatory Coordinator, laurgriffi@pa.gov or (717) 772-3277.
(Photos: top- Range Resources Augustine Drill Pad in Cecil Township; Augustine Drill Pad showing scale of operation; bottom- Map of Shale gas wells (red dots), conventional oil and gas wells (blue/green dots) in Cecil Township (DEP Oil & Gas Program); 523 feet from nearest house; Well pad gas flare from bedroom window near Augustine well pad (WTAE). Other photos Courtesy of The Energy Age Blog.)
Resource Links - Setbacks:
-- 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]
-- 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]
-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Calls Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’ [October 2023]
-- Rep. Vitali Introduces Legislation To Increase Setbacks From Unconventional Shale Gas Wells From 500 Feet To 2,500 Feet From Homes, 5,000 Feet From Schools, Hospitals [10.15.25]
-- Senators Santarsiero, Comitta Introduce SB 581 Increasing Setback Safety Zones From Natural Gas Drilling Sites, Other Infrastructure, Based On Latest Science [January 2024]
-- Capital & Main: Pennsylvania Gas Producer [CNX Resources] Sues Capital & Main Over Its Reporting On Health Risks [CNX Compliance History Includes Conviction On Criminal Charges]
-- Environmental Hearing Board Agrees There Is ‘Acute’ Danger In CNX Misusing A Deposition In An Appeal Before The Board To ‘Punish’ An Environmental Advocate For Her Advocacy Against CNX [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]
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]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Environmental Quality Board Votes To Accept Petition To Study An Increase In Setback Safety Zones From Shale Gas Wells; And 3 Petitions From Oil & Gas Industry To Change Other Requirements [PaEN]
-- Sen. Yaw Bill To Subsidize Building Only Natural Gas Power Plants To Help Meet The Energy Demands Of A.I. Data Centers; Continues ‘One Of The Above’ Energy Policy [PaEN]
-- Independent Fiscal Office: 2025 Act 13 Shale Gas Impact Fee Revenue Estimate $239.9 Million, Up $75.3 Million From Last Year [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Post-Gazette - Laura Legere: DEP To Review Proposal To Expand No-Drill Zones Around Homes, Schools, Streams
-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: PA Will Study Plan To Keep New Natural Gas Drilling Pads Farther From Homes, Schools, Hospitals
-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: PJM Grid Operator Covering PA Failing To Plan For Responsible A.I. Data Center Load Growth, Observers Say
-- Scranton Times: Customer, Elected Officials Blast Proposed PPL Rate Increase, Concerns About Ratepayers Footing The Bill For A.I. Data Centers [PDF of Article]
-- Fox43: New Plans Reviewed For $15 Billion A.I. Data Center In Middlesex Twp., Cumberland County
-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Philadelphia Signs Agreement To Buy Electricity From Clearfield County Solar Energy Facility To Stabilize Energy Costs
- The Guardian: More Than 230 US Environmental Groups Demand Halt To New Energy-Hungry A.I. Data Centers Causing Soaring Electric Bills
-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Concerns Raised About PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In A.I. Data Centers
-- Utility Dive: President Wants ‘ONE’ National A.I. Data Center Rule As States Seeks To Curb Impacts On Energy Costs, Water Use, Privacy And Other Issues
-- NY Times: President Promises Executive Order To Block State A.I. Regulations
[Posted: December 9, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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