THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY SONNEY, BOBACK, DALEY, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, HORNAMAN, KORTZ, MILLARD, MUNDY, PASHINSKI, PICKETT, REICHLEY, VULAKOVICH, WAGNER AND WHITE, MARCH 14, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, MARCH 14, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of December 19, 1984 (P.L.1140, No.223),

entitled "An act relating to the development of oil and gas

and coal; imposing duties and powers on the Department of

Environmental Resources; imposing notification requirements

to protect landowners; and providing for definitions, for

various requirements to regulate the drilling and operation

of oil and gas wells, for gas storage reservoirs, for various

reporting requirements, including certain requirements

concerning the operation of coal mines, for well permits, for

well registration, for distance requirements, for well casing

requirements, for safety device requirements, for storage

reservoir obligations, for well bonding requirements, for a

Well Plugging Restricted Revenue Account to enforce oil and

gas well plugging requirements, for the creation of an Oil

and Gas Technical Advisory Board, for oil and gas well

inspections, for enforcement and for penalties," in

preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions;

and, in general requirements, providing for the regulation of

natural gas compressor stations.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 103 of the act of December 19, 1984

(P.L.1140, No.223), known as the Oil and Gas Act, is amended by

adding a definition to read:

Section 103.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

* * *

"Natural gas compressor station."  A permanent facility

housing a mechanical device which increases the pressure of

natural gas by reducing its volume in order for the natural gas

to be moved into transmission lines or into storage.

* * *

Section 2.  The act is amended by adding a section to read:

Section 217.  Natural gas compressor stations.

(a)  Each well operator shall provide to the department a

natural gas compressor station plan as part of the well

operator's permit application. The plan shall show the political

subdivision and county upon which tract of land the station will

be constructed, the name of all surface landowners within 2,500

feet of the proposed station, the amount of acreage to be used

by the station and exact location of the station on the tract.

(b)  (1)  Any new, existing or expanded natural gas

compressor station constructed under this section shall not

exceed a noise threshold of a day-night level of 55 dBA. The

operator of each natural gas compressor station shall conduct

a noise survey and submit a report of its findings to the

department within 60 days of completing the survey.

(2)  (i)  If the initial survey demonstrates the station

exceeds the noise day-night level specified in paragraph

(1), the department shall direct the operator to take the

necessary actions to ensure compliance.

(ii)  The operator shall ensure that the facility

complies with the requirements of this subsection within

45 days of being notified by the department. Upon

completion of all noise mediation actions, the operator

shall conduct a second noise survey and submit the

results to the department within 45 days of completing

the second noise survey.

(3)  The department shall issue orders as are necessary

to aid in the enforcement of the provisions of this section.

An order issued under this section shall take effect upon

notice unless the order specifies otherwise. The department

may suspend or cease operation of a station, if the station

continues to violate this section.

(c)  An operator of a natural gas compressor station shall

notify, in writing, all landowners owning property, with or

without a residence, and within 2,500 feet of a proposed natural

gas compressor station 60 days prior to commencing construction

of the station. The notification shall, at a minimum, include:

(1)  A brief description of the station to be constructed

or replaced and the effect the construction activity will

have on the landowner's property.

(2)  The name and telephone number of the company

representative who is knowledgeable about the project.

(3)  A description of the operator's complaint resolution

procedure, which procedure shall, at a minimum, include

providing landowners with clear and simple directions for

identifying and resolving concerns or problems that may occur

during construction or upon completion of the station.

(4)  A local or toll-free telephone number or Internet

website and a name of a specific person to be contacted with

the responsibility for responding to landowner concerns and

complaints.

(5)  Instructions to landowners regarding the right to

file a complaint with the department if the landowner

believes the operator's response is unsatisfactory.

Section 3.  This act shall take effect immediately.