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.

18Section 3. Pennsylvania Grade Crude Development Advisory
19Council.

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

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

5(1) The Secretary of Community and Economic Development
6or the secretary's designee.

7(2) The Secretary of Environmental Protection or the
8secretary's designee.

9(3) Two members of the Senate appointed by the President
10pro tempore of the Senate.

11(4) Two members of the House of Representatives
12appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

13(5) The following members appointed by the Governor:

14(i) Two representatives of the Pennsylvania
15Independent Petroleum Producers.

16(ii) Two representatives of the Pennsylvania
17Independent Oil and Gas Association.

18(iii) Two representatives of the Pennsylvania Grade
19Crude Oil Coalition.

20(iv) Two representatives of refineries of
21Pennsylvania grade crude oil.

22(v) One representative of a nonprofit corporation,
23which has the purpose of promoting the history and
24economic benefits of the conventional oil and gas
25industry in this Commonwealth.

26(vi) One representative of academia who is a
27geologist with an expertise in petroleum geology.

28(vii) One representative of academia who is a
29hydrologist.

30(c) Chairperson.--The council shall elect a chairperson from

1among its members.

2(d) Meetings.--The council shall meet upon the call of the
3chairperson, but not less than semiannually. A simple majority
4of the members shall constitute a quorum.

5(e) Terms.--

6(1) Except as set forth in paragraph (2), the
7legislative members of the council shall serve two-year terms
8commencing with the first Tuesday in January of odd-numbered
9years and may be reappointed upon reelection to office.

10(2) Of the initial members appointed by the President
11pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
12Representatives, members shall serve until the first Tuesday
13in January of the first odd-numbered year after the end of
14the year during which this section takes effect.

15(3) Of the initial members appointed by the Governor:

16(i) Four members shall serve initial terms of one
17year.

18(ii) Four members shall serve initial terms of two
19years.

20(iii) Three members shall serve initial terms of
21three years.

22(4) After the initial terms, individuals appointed by
23the Governor shall serve for a term of three years.

24(5) Individuals appointed by the Governor may be
25appointed to successive terms.

26(f) Vacancies.--Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder
27of an unexpired term in the same manner as original
28appointments. A member, upon expiration of the term, shall
29continue to hold office until a successor is appointed.

30(g) Quorum.--A majority of the membership of the council

1shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
2Action may be taken on a matter before the council by a majority
3vote of the full membership of the council.

4(h) Compensation.--Council members may not receive
5compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for all
6necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred in
7connection with the performance of their duties as members.

8Section 4. Study and report.

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

10(1) Examine and make recommendations regarding existing
11technical regulations promulgated under 58 Pa.C.S. (relating
12to oil and gas) and policies implemented by the department
13that impact the conventional oil and gas industry of this
14Commonwealth.

15(2) Develop a regulatory scheme that provides for
16environmental oversight and enforcement specifically
17applicable to the conventional oil and gas industry.

18(3) Ensure that its study addresses the need to preserve
19the long-term viability of the conventional oil and gas
20industry.

21(b) Report.--The council shall issue a report of its
22findings and recommendations under subsection (a) to all of the
23following:

24(1) The Governor.

25(2) The Secretary of Environmental Protection.

26(3) The President pro tempore of the Senate.

27(4) The Minority Leader of the Senate.

28(5) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
29Environmental Resources and Energy Committee of the Senate.

30(6) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.

1(7) The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

2(8) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
3Environmental Resources and Energy Committee of the House of
4Representatives.

5(c) Deadline.--The council shall submit the report under
6subsection (b) within 180 days of the effective date of this
7act.

8Section 5. Duties of council.

9The council shall have the following duties:

10(1) To assist the Secretary of Environmental Protection
11and provide written comments on new departmental policy that
12will impact the conventional oil and gas industry of this
13Commonwealth, including economic consequences.

14(2) To review and comment on the formulation and
15drafting of all technical regulations promulgated under 58
16Pa.C.S. (relating to oil and gas).

17(3) To provide institutional support for the
18conventional oil and gas industry of this Commonwealth by
19ensuring effective cooperation and communication among
20governmental agencies and the academic and research
21community.

22(4) To recommend appropriate measures relating to the
23promotion and development of the conventional oil and gas
24industry of this Commonwealth.

25(5) To develop a plan to increase Pennsylvania grade
26crude oil production to more adequately supply the refineries
27which depend on Pennsylvania grade crude oil.

28(6) To develop a joint working group with the department
29to explore and develop economically viable production water
30management options.

1Section 6. Duties of department.

2The department shall have the following duties:

3(1) To consult with the council on all policies and
4technical regulations promulgated under 58 Pa.C.S. (relating
5to oil and gas).

6(2) To include any written comments of the council
7received before the department's submission of a proposed
8rulemaking package to the Environmental Quality Board, as
9part of its submission to the Environmental Quality Board.

10Section 7. Administrative support.

11The Department of Community and Economic Development shall
12provide administrative support, office space and any other
13technical assistance required by the council to carry out its
14duties under this act.

15Section 8. Effective date.

16This act shall take effect immediately.