PA Environment Digest Blog: PA Senate Committee Meets May 7 On Bill To Punish Communities Taking Steps To Protect Their Residents From Health, Environmental Impacts Of Shale Gas Drilling

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet May 7 on legislation to punish communities taking steps to protect their residents from the health and environmental impacts of shale gas drilling by withholding Act 13 drilling impact fees.

Also on the agenda is legislation to change the name of DEP, identify sites for natural gas power plants and redefine safe well plugging.

The legislation to be consider is--

-- Punishing Communities: Senate Bill 102 (Bartolotta-R-Washington, Yaw-R-Lycoming) this legislation punishes local elected officials who want to better protect their constituents from the documented adverse health and environmental impacts of shale gas development by prohibiting municipalities from receiving Act 13 drilling impact fees if they set protective standards on the development of natural gas that “imposes a standard or condition on well development that conflicts with or exceeds those contained” in state law. Read more here.

The legislation was prompted by an ordinance adopted by Cecil Township in Washington County that establishes a 2,500 setback from shale gas well pads. The current minimum setback is 500 feet from a well bore. Read more here.

This bill is part of a coordinated strategy with the shale gas industry to put roadblocks in the way of communities adopting more protective safety zones around shale gas well pads and infrastructure.

Range Resources and MarkWest Liberty Midstream have filed challenges at the local level against the Cecil Township setbacks in Washington County Court and the Township Zoning Hearing Board. Read more here.

This legislation would provide pressure on communities from another direction to punish them for challenging the industry.

[Note: Cecil Township is in Sen. Bartolotta’s legislative district.]

-- DEP Name Change: Senate Bill 682 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) changing the name of the Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Environmental Services

-- Power Plant Sites: Senate Bill 704 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) require DCED and DEP to identify sites suitable for natural gas electric generation projects

-- Redefine Safe Oil & Gas Well Plugging: Senate Bill 712 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) redefining safe plugging requirements for conventional oil and gas wells with a new definition of what is considered a “reasonable” effort to clean out a well. [Note: Conventional well owners have been trying for several years to reduce the effort needed to safely plug a well.]

Join The Meeting

The meeting will be held in Room 461 of the Main Capitol starting at 9:30 a.m. Click Here to watch the meeting online [if available].

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3280 or sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov. Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5709 or sending email to: senatorcomitta@pasenate.com.

(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.)

Reference Links - Bigger Safety Zones Needed:

-- PA Republican Senators Introduce Bill To Punish Local Elected Officials Who Want To Protect Their Constituents From The Documented Adverse Health, Environmental Impacts Of Shale Gas Development [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 [11.5.24]

-- 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]

-- The Energy Age Blog: Range Resources & MarkWest Liberty Midstream File Legal Challenges Against 2,500 Foot Shale Gas Setback Ordinance In Cecil Twp., Washington County [January 2025]

-- Environmental Health Project Releases New White Paper: PA's Shale Gas - What We Can Do Now To Better Protect Public Health [PaEN]

-- On Feb. 13 Dept. Of Health, Penn State Project ECHO Held A Webinar To Educate Medical Professionals, Public On Exposures To Natural Gas Facility Pollution; Real Washington County CNX Facility Case Study Used [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: Lois Bower-Bjornson Shares Her First-Hand Experiences With Shale Gas Health, Environmental Impacts In Washington County [PaEN]

-- 7 Years Ago, People From Over 70 Households Gave First-Hand Accounts Of How The PA Shale Gas Industry Impacted Their Health, Lives And Communities To A State Grand Jury Describing The ‘Sometimes Harsh Reality’ Of These Operations [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]