DCED PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council Meets Aug. 20 On Conventional Contaminated Water Disposal, Well Plugging Program, Methane Emission Reduction Regs

The  DCED PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council for conventional oil and gas well owners is scheduled to meet August 20 at the Innovation Center in State College starting at 10:00 a.m.

[UPDATE from DCED: “The agenda that is currently displayed on the Upcoming Events section of the CDAC page is incorrect. It is an artifact from the previous meeting announcement back in April.” DCED’s  “digital team to update it as the August agenda is still being finalized.”]

Here’s the agenda for the last meeting [most of the agenda items are the same meeting to meeting]-- 

-- Contaminated Water from conventional oil & gas wells - status, next steps. Read more here.

-- Legacy [conventional] well plugging standards and procedures

-- Update on DEP’s plan to comply with federal 0000c oil and gas methane emissions reduction requirements.  Read more here. 

-- Updates on the federally-funded conventional oil and gas well plugging, methane reduction programs

-- Presentation on Underground Injection Well Primacy status

-- Update on natural gas storage area regulations

-- Economic report on the conventional industry

-- State of global energy supply and the impact on Pennsylvania

Public Comments

Individuals interested in presenting public comments to the Council should contact Adam Walters, Governor’s Office of Energy, 717-214-6548 or send email to adwalters@pa.gov. 

Join the Meeting

The meeting will be held in Room 157 of the Technology Center, 200 Innovation Blvd. in State College starting at 10:00 a.m.

Click Here for instructions on joining the meeting on Microsoft Teams and by telephone.

Visit the DCED PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council webpage for available handouts and more information.  Questions should be directed to Adam Walters, Governor’s Office of Energy, 717-214-6548 or send email to adwalters@pa.gov. 

Resource Links:

-- Briefing: DEP Issues A New Type Of Conventional Oil & Gas Well Permit Allowing Groundwater Contaminated By Oil & Gas Formations To Be Dumped On Roads, Used In Consumer Products Without Restrictions  [PaEN] 

-- FracTracker Alliance Appeals DEP Conventional Oil & Gas Mineral Brine Well Permit Due To Concerns The Permit Creates A New Loophole For Disposing Of Contaminated Groundwater Without Testing Or Restrictions On Its Use  [PaEN] 

-- House Committee Moves Bills To Prohibit Road Dumping Contaminated Groundwater Released By Conventional Oil & Gas Well Drilling; Setting Minimum Standards For Power Plant Community Benefit Agreements; Encouraging Native Insect Habitats [PaEN]

-- The Conversation: Pennsylvania Roads Are Being Coated In Radioactive Oil & Gas Wastewater - New DEP Well Permit Allows Uncontrolled Use  [PaEN]

-- PennLive: Attorney General Sunday Files More Criminal Charges Against Eureka Resources, This Time For Releasing Oily Oil & Gas Wastewater From Its Williamsport Plant Last August  [PaEN] 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Nearly 1 Year Since Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Spill, Company Sold Its Operations, Wastewater Still At All 3 Facilities  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Adopt Regulations Limiting Methane Emissions From Conventional Oil & Gas, Shale Gas Infrastructure; Will Outline Approach At Aug. 6 Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee Meeting [PaEN] 

-- DEP Marks Plugging 400th Conventional Oil & Gas Well Abandoned By Its Owner Under A Taxpayer Funded Program [PaEN]

-- State Budget Brief: DEP Oil & Gas Program Enforcement & Permitting Staff Has Been Frozen For Last 10 Years, Meanwhile Drilled Shale Gas Wells Increased By Nearly 50% [PaEN] 

[Posted: August 10, 2026]  PA Environment Digest