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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/23/2024 03:09 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20190&cosponId=28749
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House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: March 11, 2019 04:57 PM
From: Representative Christopher M. Rabb
To: All House members
Subject: Shale Gas Operations Transparency Act
 
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would amend Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to further provide for well reporting requirements.

This legislation would provide for the reporting of impacts on communities and public resources caused by unconventional natural gas production. Specifically, under this legislation, well operators would be required to report the following annually:
  • The amount a well operator has expended or has agreed to pay for temporary water supplies for affected residents
  • The number of non-disclosure agreements a well operator has signed with individuals
  • The impact of operations on infrastructure and public resources, including but not limited to:
  • Publicly owned parks, forests, game lands, and wildlife areas;
  • National or state scenic rivers;
  • National natural landmarks;
  • Habitats of rare and endangered flora and fauna;
  • Historical and archeological sites listed on the federal and state list of historic places;
  • Sources of public drinking water supplies;
  • Drainage systems;
  • Energy facilities which generate and distribute power;
  • Sewer systems;
  • Transportation facilities, including roads, bridges, and rails; and,
  • Water supply facilities.
The reports would be made publicly available through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s website.

Over the past dozen years, as Pennsylvania has transitioned into a major natural gas producer, incidents near well sites have raised concerns about the impact natural gas operations have on the environment and safety of Pennsylvania’s residents. As such, I believe the public has a right to know what is being done to protect them and the Commonwealth’s interests and resources.

Please join me in supporting this important measure.


Introduced as HB1649