PA Environmental Quality Board Opens Public Comment Period on
Proposed Oil and Gas Regulations
PA-DEP Release
12 December 2013
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/12/2013
CONTACT: Lisa Kasianowitz, Department of Environmental Protection
- 717-787-1323
Environmental Quality Board Opens Public Comment Period on
Proposed Oil and Gas Regulations, Will Hold Public Hearings
DEP to Host Informational Webinars
Harrisburg – The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and
the Environmental Quality Board announced today that the public
comment period for a proposed regulation for environmental
protection performance standards associated with oil and gas
activities will open on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The Environmental Quality Board (EQB) is a 20-member independent
board chaired by the Secretary of DEP that adopts all of the
department’s regulations and considers petitions to change
regulations. During the public comment period, the EQB will be
hosting seven public hearings across Pennsylvania and offer
multiple ways to submit comments.
Along with the EQB hearings, DEP will be holding two webinars on
Thursday, Dec. 19, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Friday, Jan.
3, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., to present information and answer
questions on the proposed regulation.
“Public participation is a key part to forging the best
regulations possible,” DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. “An
exceptional number of hearings are being offered by the EQB to
gather information and to be sure that people’s voices are heard.”
The proposed regulation implements key provisions of Act 13 of
2012, including further consideration of impacts to public
resources, such as parks and wildlife areas; the prevention of
spills; the management of waste; and the restoration of well sites
after drilling.
Additionally, the draft rulemaking also includes standards
affecting the construction of gathering lines and temporary
pipelines, and includes provisions for identifying and monitoring
abandoned wells close to proposed well sites.
Public Hearings
People wishing to present verbal testimony at a hearing are
requested to contact the EQB at least one week in advance of the
hearing to reserve a time. Those who wish to present testimony at
the hearing may use the address below or call the EQB at
717-787-4526 to reserve time to testify. All relevant written and
oral comments that are received at a public hearing will be
considered when finalizing the regulation.
Witnesses are limited to five minutes of testimony and are
requested to submit three written copies of their testimony to the
hearing chairperson at the hearing. Organizations are limited to
designating one witness to present testimony on their behalf at
each hearing.
Individuals in need of accommodations as provided for in the
Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the EQB to discuss
their needs at 717-787-4526 or make accommodations through the
Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 800-654-5984 (TDD) or
800-654-5988 (voice users).
Online Comments
The public is being invited to submit comments to the EQB
regarding the proposed rulemaking by Feb. 12, 2014. Along with
their comments, people can submit a one-page summary of their
comments to the EQB. Comments, including the one page summary, may
be submitted to EQB by accessing the EQB’s Online Public Comment
System at http://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/RegComments.
Written Comments
Written comments and summaries should be mailed to
Environmental Quality Board, P.O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA
17105-8477.
The summaries and a formal comment and response document will be
distributed to the EQB and available publicly prior to the meeting
when the final rulemaking will be considered.
Email Comments
People can also submit comments to RegComments@pa.gov.
Online and email comments must also be received by the EQB on or
before Feb. 12. If an acknowledgement of comments submitted online
or by email is not received by the sender within two business
days, the comments should be re-sent to the EQB to ensure receipt.
For more information or to register for DEP’s Informational
webinars, visit www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: Webinars. After
registration, an email will be sent containing a link to the
webinar. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the Oil and
Gas webinars webpage for future viewing.
To view materials for the proposed regulation, visit http://www.dep.state.pa.us
and click the “Proposed Oil and Gas Regulations” button.
Media Contact: Lisa Kasianowitz, DEP, 717-787-1323
Editor’s Note: The public hearings will be held at 6 p.m. A list
of locations and dates follows:
Wyoming County
Jan. 7, 2014, Tunkhannock High School Auditorium, 135 Tiger Drive,
Tunkhannock, PA 18657
Chester County
Jan. 9, 2014, West Chester University of Pennsylvania’s Sykes
Student Union Theater, 110 West Rosedale Avenue, West Chester, PA
19383
Lycoming County
Jan. 13, 2014, Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Klump Academic
Center, One College Avenue, Williamsport, PA 17701
Crawford County
Jan. 15, 2014, Meadville Area Senior High School Auditorium, 930
North Street, Meadville, PA 16335
Cumberland County
Jan. 16, 2014, Good Hope Middle School Auditorium, 451 Skyport
Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Washington County
Jan. 22, 2014, Washington and Jefferson College’s Rossin Campus
Center / Allen Ballroom, 60 South Lincoln Street, Washington, PA
15301
Indiana County
Jan. 23, 2014, Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Convention and
Athletic Complex, 711 Pratt Drive, Indiana, PA 15705