PRINTER'S NO. 1836
No. 1527 Session of 1977
INTRODUCED BY CALTAGIRONE, COLE, GRAY, SCANLON, GIAMMARCO,
CIANCIULLI, D. R. WRIGHT, MILANOVICH, SHUMAN, ZEARFOSS,
SPITZ, LYNCH, STAIRS, ARMSTRONG, WENGER, STUBAN, GOODMAN,
BORSKI, JONES, SWEET, McCALL, TENAGLIO, ZITTERMAN, WANSACZ,
McLANE, RUGGIERO, LEVI, GATSKI, MOEHLMANN, SALVATORE, BURD,
FREIND, GALLEN, BERLIN, DAVIES, GLEESON, BROWN, DeWEESE,
HARPER, B. F. O'BRIEN, MELUSKEY, FISHER, POTT, GRIECO,
CIMINI, McINTYRE, OLIVER, JOHNSON, MEBUS AND MILLIRON,
JULY 25, 1977
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON MINES AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT,
JULY 25, 1977
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
2 "An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
3 executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
4 Executive Department thereof and the administrative
5 departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
6 including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
7 Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
8 authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
9 departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
10 duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
11 officers, and of the several administrative departments,
12 boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
13 Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
14 and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
15 certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
16 other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
17 and commissions; and prescribing the manner in which the
18 number and compensation of the deputies and all other
19 assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and
20 commissions shall be determined," permitting drilling for gas
21 in Lake Erie.
22 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
23 hereby enacts as follows:
1 Section 1. The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
2 as "The Administrative Code of 1929," is amended by adding
3 sections to read:
4 Section 1927-A. Drilling in Lake Erie Permitted.--Drilling
5 for gas in Lake Erie is permitted. The Department of
6 Environmental Resources shall enforce the provisions of this
7 section.
8 Section 1928-A. Drilling for Gas; Procedure.--Drilling for
9 gas in Lake Erie is permitted when done in an environmentally
10 safe manner in accordance with the following requirements:
11 (1) Drilling shall be limited to eight months each year
12 (April through November).
13 (2) Before beginning drilling a permit to drill must be
14 received by each drilling company from the Department of
15 Environmental Resources.
16 (3) All casing and blow out prevention programs must be
17 approved before a drilling permit is granted.
18 (4) On-site inspection by governmental inspectors must be
19 made during drilling and plugging of all wells, upon
20 prenotification of drilling operator.
21 (5) Approved oil spill dispersements, equipment, and trained
22 personnel shall be maintained aboard all rigs, including devices
23 to prevent seepage during production.
24 (6) Each drilling company must carry adequate liability
25 insurance to be used if the government must take action in case
26 of a spill. The Department of Environmental Resources shall
27 promulgate regulations to administer the provisions of this
28 section.
29 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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