Public Input Sought on Proposals to Strengthen Oil and Gas Well Protections in PA

On July 10, 2010 the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) published its proposed rulemaking measures to update existing state requirements for drilling, casing, cementing, testing, monitoring and plugging of oil and gas wells. The proposed rulemaking is now open to public comment on changes that will substantially improve the safety of oil and gas wells across the state and protect the state’s water resources from contamination. Once the public comment period is concluded, the proposal will go before the Pennsylvania Independent Regulatory Review Commission for review and final publication.

 

The proposed rules would amend state regulations for casing and cementing wells. The Department of Environmental Protection proposed the rule changes to strengthen construction standards for oil and gas wells. A properly cased and cemented well is critical to keeping gas, oil and other fluids contained inside the well bore and away from fresh groundwater.

According to the EQB, a large portion of the updates contained in the proposal are already employed as part of best management practices among operators. The more rigorous standards are intended to prevent gas from migrating from a well, where it could contaminate a water supply or possibly enter a home and reach combustible levels. Among the new standards would be requirements for pressure-testing those casings used in Marcellus Shale wells, for using oilfield-grade cement, and for using blowout preventers. 

 

The new regulations will also require well operators to inspect all existing wells quarterly to ensure each is structurally sound, and report the results of these inspections to DEP. The amendments would also clearly define a drilling company’s responsibility for responding to gas migration issues.

 

The public comment period will remain open through Monday, Aug. 9.

 

Members of the public may mail comments, suggestions or objections to the Environmental Quality Board, P.O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477 or to Rachel Carson State Office Building, 16th Floor, 400 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17101-2301. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted.

 

Comments may also be e-mailed before the deadline to RegComments@state.pa.us. A subject heading of the proposed rulemaking and a return name and address for any response to comments provided must be included in each e-mail.

 

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Public Participation.

 

This article includes publically available information, and was assembled by Rachel L. Shanteau, Acacia Environmental Group LLC. For more information on the author see here.