AN ACT

 

1Establishing the Pennsylvania Grade Crude Development Advisory
2Council; and providing for duties of the Pennsylvania Grade
3Development 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.

18"Secretary." The Secretary of Environmental Protection of

1the Commonwealth.

2Section 3. Pennsylvania Grade Crude Development Advisory
3Council.

4(a) Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Grade Crude Development
5Advisory Council is established.

6(b) Composition.--The council shall consist of the following
7members:

8(1) The Secretary of Community and Economic Development
9or the secretary's designee.

10(2) The Secretary of Environmental Protection or the
11secretary's designee.

12(3) Two members of the Senate appointed by the President
13pro tempore of the Senate.

14(4) Two members of the House of Representatives
15appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

16(5) The following members appointed by the Governor:

17(i) Two representatives of the Pennsylvania
18Independent Petroleum Producers.

19(ii) Two representatives of the Pennsylvania
20Independent Oil and Gas Association.

21(iii) Two representatives of the Pennsylvania Grade
22Crude Oil Coalition.

23(iv) Two representatives of refineries of
24Pennsylvania grade crude oil.

25(v) One representative of a nonprofit corporation,
26which has the purpose of promoting the history and
27economic benefits of the conventional oil and gas
28industry in this Commonwealth.

29(vi) One representative of academia who is a
30geologist with an expertise in petroleum geology.

1(vii) One representative of academia who is a
2hydrologist.

3(c) Chairperson.--The council shall elect a chairperson from
4among its members.

5(d) Meetings.--The council shall meet upon the call of the
6chairperson, but not less than semiannually. A simple majority
7of the members shall constitute a quorum.

8(e) Terms.--

9(1) Except as stated in paragraph (2), the legislative
10members of the council shall serve two-year terms commencing
11with the first Tuesday in January of odd-numbered years and
12may be reappointed upon reelection to office.

13(2) Of the initial members appointed by the President
14pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
15Representatives, members shall serve until the first Tuesday
16in January of the first odd-numbered year after the end of
17the year during which this section takes effect.

18(3) Of the initial members appointed by the Governor:

19(i) Four members shall serve initial terms of one
20year.

21(ii) Four members shall serve initial terms of two
22years.

23(iii) Three members shall serve initial terms of
24three years.

25(4) After the initial terms, individuals appointed by
26the Governor shall serve for a term of three years.

27(5) Individuals appointed by the Governor may be
28appointed to successive terms.

29(f) Vacancies.--Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder
30of an unexpired term in the same manner as original

1appointments. A member, upon expiration of the term, shall
2continue to hold office until a successor is appointed.

3(g) Quorum.--A majority of the membership of the council
4shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
5Action may be taken on a matter before the council by a majority
6vote of the full membership of the council.

7(h) Compensation.--Council members may not receive
8compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for all
9necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred in
10connection with the performance of their duties as members.

11Section 4. Study and report.

12(a) Study.--The council shall:

13(1) Examine and make recommendations regarding existing
14technical regulations promulgated under 58 Pa.C.S. (relating
15to oil and gas) and policies implemented by the department
16that impact the conventional oil and gas industry of this
17Commonwealth.

18(2) Develop a regulatory scheme that provides for
19environmental oversight and enforcement specifically
20applicable to the conventional oil and gas industry.

21(3) Ensure that its study addresses the need to preserve
22the long-term viability of the conventional oil and gas
23industry.

24(b) Report.--The council shall issue a report of its
25findings and recommendations under subsection (a) to all of the
26following:

27(1) The Governor.

28(2) The Secretary of Environmental Protection.

29(3) The President pro tempore of the Senate.

30(4) The Minority Leader of the Senate.

1(5) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
2Environmental Resources and Energy Committee of the Senate.

3(6) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.

4(7) The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

5(8) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
6Environmental Resources and Energy Committee of the House of
7Representatives.

8(c) Deadline.--The council shall submit the report under
9subsection (b) within 180 days of the effective date of this
10section.

11Section 5. Duties of council.

12The council shall have the following duties:

13(1) To assist the secretary and provide written comments
14on new departmental policy that will impact the conventional
15oil and gas industry of this Commonwealth, including economic
16consequences.

17(2) To review and comment on the formulation and
18drafting of all technical regulations promulgated under 58
19Pa.C.S. (relating to oil and gas).

20(3) To provide institutional support for the
21conventional oil and gas industry of this Commonwealth by
22ensuring effective cooperation and communication among
23governmental agencies and the academic and research
24community.

25(4) To recommend appropriate measures relating to the
26promotion and development of the conventional oil and gas
27industry of this Commonwealth.

28(5) To develop a plan to increase Pennsylvania grade
29crude oil production to more adequately supply the refineries
30which depend on Pennsylvania grade crude oil.

1(6) To develop a joint working group with the department
2to explore and develop economically viable production water
3management options.

4Section 6. Duties of department.

5The department shall have the following duties:

6(1) To consult with the council on all policies and
7technical regulations promulgated under 58 Pa.C.S. (relating
8to oil and gas).

9(2) To include any written comments of the council
10received before the department's submission of a proposed
11rulemaking package to the Environmental Quality Board, as
12part of its submission to the Environmental Quality Board.

13Section 7. Administrative support.

14The Department of Community and Economic Development shall
15provide administrative support, office space and any other
16technical assistance required by the council to carry out its
17duties under this act.

18Section 8. Effective date.

19This act shall take effect immediately.