Jun. 23, 2016
HARRISBURG – Legislation halting implementation of new regulations on the conventional oil and gas industries is now law, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint).
Senate Bill 279 was signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday morning. It is now Act 52 of 2016.
“This law will literally save the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of people working in the conventional oil and gas industry,” Causer said. “I am pleased to see this bill finally signed into law, and I commend our local producers who took such an active role in advocating for their industry and against the unreasonable and unnecessary regulations bureaucrats were trying to force down their throats.”
The new law abolishes regulations for conventional oil and gas producers which were developed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) after passage of Act 13 of 2012. The intent of the Legislature was that regulations resulting from Act 13 be directed solely toward deep, unconventional well drilling in places such as the Marcellus and Utica shales; however, DEP chose to apply them to both types of drilling.
Throughout the process, the agency failed to acknowledge the differences between the two types of drilling and then ignored a 2014 state law requiring it to keep regulations for conventional and unconventional wells entirely separate. Despite the deeply flawed process and violations of the state’s Regulatory Review Act, the regulations were approved by both the Environmental Quality Board and the Independent Regulatory Review Commission earlier this year, paving the way for their implementation.
The law also creates the Pennsylvania Grade Crude Development Advisory Council to advise and assist DEP in ensuring any future regulations affecting the conventional oil and gas industry are reasonable and reflect the characteristics and processes of shallow well drilling.
The council is also charged with making recommendations to promote the long-term viability and development of the conventional oil and gas industry, including a plan to responsibly increase Penn Grade Crude production to more adequately supply the refineries that depend upon it.
Representative Martin T. Causer
67th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Patricia A. Hippler
717.772.9846
phippler@pahousegop.com
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