PA Environment Digest Blog: Governor’s Regulatory Agenda Includes Update Of Regulations For Conventional Oil & Gas Wells; New Injection Well Controls; Shale Gas Application Fee

The Governor’s Office published its latest agency-by-agency Regulatory Agenda in the January 31 PA Bulletin showing the status of regulations in development and an approximate schedule for consideration.

For the Department of Environmental Protection, the Agenda includes these Oil and Gas Program regulations--

-- Update of Chapter 78 Environmental Performance Standards for Conventional Oil and Gas Wells - Proposed Rule To Be Considered By EQB In 3rd Quarter 2026;

-- Update of Chapter 78a Shale Gas Permit Fee - Proposed Rule To Be Considered By EQB In 3th Quarter 2026;

-- New Chapter 78 Injection Control Well Regulations (Act 87 of 2024) - Proposed Rule To Be Considered By EQB In 3th Quarter 2026;

-- Update of Chapter 287 Coproduct Waste Regulations - Proposed Rule To Be Considered By EQB In 3th Quarter 2026; and

-- Update of Chapter 78 Waste Management Standards for Conventional Oil and Gas Wells - Proposed Rule To Be Considered By EQB In 4th Quarter 2026.

Note: Updates to the regulations covering conventional oil and gas wells have been included on the Governor’s Regulatory Agenda and DEP’s Regulatory Agenda since February of 2017, a year after the General Assembly killed a 2016 update to these regulations.

An update to the shale gas permit application fees has been on the Governor’s Regulatory Agenda since July 2022, just two years after the last fee increase in August 2020.

The Governor’s Agenda also includes these other DEP regulations--

-- Update to Chapter 252 Environmental Lab Accreditation Fees - Proposed Rule To Be Considered in 2nd Quarter 2026;

-- Update to Chapters 218 & 240 Radiological Health & Radon Certification Fees - Proposed Rule To Be Considered in 2nd Quarter 2026;

-- Update to Chapter 109 to incorporate federal PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Drinking Water MCL - Proposed Rule To Be Considered By EQB In 3th Quarter 2026;

-- Update to Chapters 71-73 related to Onlot Septic Systems - Proposed Rule To Be Considered By EQB In 3th Quarter 2026;

-- Update to Chapter 105 Dam Safety & Encroachment Regulations - Proposed Rule To Be Considered By EQB In 3th Quarter 2026;

-- Rescinding Chapter 126 Heavy-Duty Vehicle Diesel Emission Controls - Proposed Rule To Be Considered By EQB In 3th Quarter 2026; and

-- Revisions to Chapter 83 Nutrient Management For Animal Feeding Operations - Proposed Rule To Be Considered in Fall 2026 by State Conservation Commission.

Click Here for the Governor’s Regulatory Agenda.

DEP Regulatory/Non-Regulatory Agendas

DEP publishes its own Regulatory Agenda showing the status of regulations in development.

DEP also publishes a Non-Regulatory Agenda showing the status of technical guidance in development.

The purpose of these agendas is to give the public and potentially affected individuals and companies in the regulated community notice so they have the opportunity to become involved in the development process.

Visit DEP’s Regulatory and Non-Regulatory Agendas webpage to learn more.

Visit DEP’s Advisory Committees, Boards & Commissions webpage for information on advisory committees that typically have the opportunity to review regulations and technical guidance in development.

Unlike most state agencies, a 20-member Environmental Quality Board has the authority to propose and adopt DEP’s regulations through a public process, rather than just the agency Secretary.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website. Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.