PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP To Recommend Environmental Quality Board Accept A Petition For Study To Increase Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells At April 8 Meeting

The Department of Environmental Protection to recommend the Environmental Quality Board accept a rulemaking petition for study proposing increases in setbacks from shale gas wells to better protect the public at the April 8 Board meeting.

At the same time, DEP told Board members “the recommendation does not infer a rulemaking ultimately will be developed.”

Also on the agenda are three regulations-

-- Final regulation setting site-specific methylmercury criterion for Ebaughs Creek in York County related to the York County Landfill;

-- Proposed regulation explicitly giving DEP authority to request delegation from EPA to enforce air quality regulations on existing sources included by reference in the federal program; and

-- Proposed regulation amending the Land Recycling Program regulations to adopt a standard for chromium.

Petition Background

On October 22, the Clean Air Council and Environmental Integrity Project-- as part of the Protective Buffers PA Coalition-- filed a 358-page rulemaking petition with the Environmental Quality Board asking it to increase minimum setback distances from shale gas wells from a minimum now of 500 feet to 3,281 feet. Read more here.

Specifically, the petition proposes--

-- 3,281 feet from any building;

-- 3,281 feet from any drinking water well;

-- 5,280 feet from any building serving vulnerable populations (e.g., schools, daycare centers, hospitals); and

-- 750 feet from any surface water of the Commonwealth.

In November, DEP announced it has determined the petition meets the initial criteria to be considered by the Board, including that the Board has the statutory authority to adopt a regulation setting more protective setbacks from shale gas wells.

Joining The Meeting

The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg starting at 9:00 a.m. Click Here for options for joining the meeting remotely.

For available handouts and more information, visit the Environmental Quality Board webpage. Questions should be directed to Laura Griffin, 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:

-- DEP Determines Rulemaking Petition Submitted By Environmental, Health Groups To Adopt More Protective Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells Is An Action The Environmental Quality Board Has Statutory Authority To Take [PaEN]

-- Environmental, Health Groups Submit Petition To Environmental Quality Board For More Protective Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells For Schools, Daycares, Hospitals, Buildings, Drinking Water Wells, Surface Water [PaEN]

-- 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 [PaEN]

-- 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 [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - March 22 to 28 - Failed To Comply With Well Plugging Order For 63 Months; Abandoned Conventional Well Violations Hit 113; Another Conventional Well Explosion, Same Owner [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - March 29 [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold May 7 Hearing On Proposed Title V Air Quality Permit For Tennessee Gas Pipeline Compressor Station 219 In Jefferson Twp., Mercer County [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On 401 Water Quality Certification For Rover Pipeline Rover-Bulger Compressor Station, Harmon Creek Meter Station Expansion In Smith Twp., Washington County [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For A MarkWest Liberty 4.5 Mile, 20-Inch Natural Gas Pipeline In Allegheny, Washington Counties Impacting Montour Trail Property [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Permit For Kratos Cryptocurrency Mining Facility Powered By Natural Gas In Clinton County [PaEN]