AN ACT

 

1Establishing the Pennsylvania Grade Crude Development Advisory
2Council; and providing for duties of the Pennsylvania Grade 
3Crude Development <-and Advisory Council and the Department of
4Environmental Protection and for administrative support.

5The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6hereby enacts as follows:

7Section 1. Short title.

8This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
9Grade Crude Development Advisory Council Act.

10Section 2. Definitions.

11The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12have the meanings given to them in the section unless the
13context clearly indicates otherwise:

14"Council." The Pennsylvania Grade Crude Development Advisory
15Council.

16"Department." The Department of Environmental Protection of
17the Commonwealth.

18Section 3. Pennsylvania Grade Crude Development Advisory

1Council.

2(a) Establishment.--There is established the Pennsylvania
3Grade Crude Development Advisory Council.

4(b) Composition.--The council shall consist of the following
5members:

6(1) The Secretary of Community and Economic Development
7or the secretary's designee.

8(2) The Secretary of Environmental Protection or the
9secretary's designee.

10(3) <-Two members One member of the Senate appointed by
11the President pro tempore of the Senate.

<-12(4) One member of the Senate appointed by the Minority
13Leader of the Senate.

<-14(4) Two members (5) One member of the House of
15Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of
16Representatives.

<-17(6) One member of the House of Representatives appointed
18by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

<-19(5) (7) The following members appointed by the Governor:

20(i) Two representatives of the Pennsylvania
21Independent Petroleum Producers.

22(ii) Two representatives of the Pennsylvania
23Independent Oil and Gas Association.

24(iii) Two representatives of the Pennsylvania Grade
25Crude Oil Coalition.

26(iv) Two representatives of refineries of
27Pennsylvania grade crude oil.

28(v) One representative of a nonprofit corporation,
29which has the purpose of promoting the history and
30economic benefits of the conventional oil and gas

1industry in this Commonwealth.

2(vi) One representative of academia who is a
3geologist with an expertise in petroleum geology.

4(vii) One representative of academia who is a
5hydrologist.

6(c) Chairperson.--The council shall elect a chairperson from
7among its members.

8(d) Meetings.--The council shall meet upon the call of the
9chairperson, but not less than semiannually. A simple majority
10of the members shall constitute a quorum.

11(e) Terms.--

12(1) Except as set forth in paragraph (2), the
13legislative members of the council shall serve two-year terms
14commencing with the first Tuesday in January of odd-numbered
15years and may be reappointed upon reelection to office.

16(2) Of the initial members appointed by the President
17pro tempore of the Senate <-and, the Minority Leader of the 
18Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives <-and the 
19Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, members
20shall serve until the first Tuesday in January of the first
21odd-numbered year after the end of the year during which this
22section takes effect.

23(3) Of the initial members appointed by the Governor:

24(i) Four members shall serve initial terms of one
25year.

26(ii) Four members shall serve initial terms of two
27years.

28(iii) Three members shall serve initial terms of
29three years.

30(4) After the initial terms, individuals appointed by

1the Governor shall serve for a term of three years.

2(5) Individuals appointed by the Governor may be
3appointed to successive terms.

4(f) Vacancies.--Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder
5of an unexpired term in the same manner as original
6appointments. A member, upon expiration of the term, shall
7continue to hold office until a successor is appointed.

8(g) Quorum.--A majority of the membership of the council
9shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
10Action may be taken on a matter before the council by a majority
11vote of the full membership of the council.

12(h) Compensation.--Council members may not receive
13compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for all
14necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred in
15connection with the performance of their duties as members.

16Section 4. <-Study and report. Duties of council.

17(a) <-Study Duties.--The council shall:

18(1) Examine and make recommendations regarding existing
19technical regulations promulgated under 58 Pa.C.S. (relating
20to oil and gas) and policies implemented by the department
21that impact the conventional oil and gas industry of this
22Commonwealth.

23(2) <-Develop Explore the development of a regulatory
24scheme that provides for environmental oversight and
25enforcement specifically applicable to the conventional oil
26and gas industry.

27(3) <-Ensure that its study addresses the need to preserve 
<-28Promote the long-term viability of the conventional oil and
29gas industry.

<-30(4) Assist the Secretary of Environmental Protection

1with and provide written comments on new departmental policy
2that will impact the conventional oil and gas industry of
3this Commonwealth, including economic consequences.

4(5) Review and comment on the formulation and drafting
5of all technical regulations proposed under 58 Pa.C.S.
6(relating to oil and gas).

7(6) Provide institutional support for the conventional
8oil and gas industry of this Commonwealth by ensuring
9effective cooperation and communication among governmental
10agencies and the academic and research community.

11(7) Recommend appropriate measures relating to the
12promotion and development of the conventional oil and gas
13industry of this Commonwealth.

14(8) Develop a plan to increase Pennsylvania grade crude
15oil production in an environmentally responsible way to more
16adequately supply the refineries which depend on Pennsylvania
17grade crude oil.

18(9) Develop a joint working group with the department to
19explore and develop an environmentally responsible and
20economically viable production water management option.

21(10) Perform other duties as necessary or appropriate to
22effect the intent and purposes of this act.

23(b) Report.--The council shall <-annually issue a report of
24its <-findings activities and recommendations under subsection (a)
25to all of the following:

26(1) The Governor.

27(2) The Secretary of Environmental Protection.

28(3) The President pro tempore of the Senate.

29(4) The Minority Leader of the Senate.

30(5) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the

1Environmental Resources and Energy Committee of the Senate.

2(6) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.

3(7) The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

4(8) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
5Environmental Resources and Energy Committee of the House of
6Representatives.

<-7(c) Deadline.--The council shall submit the report under
8subsection (b) within 180 days of the effective date of this
9act.

10Section 5. Duties of council.

11The council shall have the following duties:

12(1) To assist the Secretary of Environmental Protection
13and provide written comments on new departmental policy that
14will impact the conventional oil and gas industry of this
15Commonwealth, including economic consequences.

16(2) To review and comment on the formulation and
17drafting of all technical regulations promulgated under 58
18Pa.C.S. (relating to oil and gas).

19(3) To provide institutional support for the
20conventional oil and gas industry of this Commonwealth by
21ensuring effective cooperation and communication among
22governmental agencies and the academic and research
23community.

24(4) To recommend appropriate measures relating to the
25promotion and development of the conventional oil and gas
26industry of this Commonwealth.

27(5) To develop a plan to increase Pennsylvania grade
28crude oil production to more adequately supply the refineries
29which depend on Pennsylvania grade crude oil.

30(6) To develop a joint working group with the department

1to explore and develop economically viable production water
2management options.

3Section <-6 5. Duties of department.

4The department shall have the following duties:

5(1) To consult with the council on all policies and
6technical regulations promulgated under 58 Pa.C.S. (relating
7to oil and gas).

8(2) To include any written comments of the council
9received before the department's submission of a proposed
10rulemaking package <-of technical regulations under 58 Pa.C.S. 
11(relating to oil and gas) to the Environmental Quality Board,
12as part of its submission to the Environmental Quality Board.

<-13(3) To provide technical assistance required by the
14council to carry out its duties under this act.

15Section <-7 6. Administrative support.

16The Department of Community and Economic Development shall
17provide administrative support, office space and any other
18technical assistance required by the council to carry out its
19duties under this act.

20Section <-8 7. Effective date.

21This act shall take effect immediately.