PRINTER'S NO. 57
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
77
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, YUDICHAK, LEACH, BREWSTER, BAKER,
COSTA, SCHWANK, HAYWOOD, RAFFERTY AND BOSCOLA,
JANUARY 13, 2017
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, JANUARY 13, 2017
AN ACT
Amending Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in unconventional gas well fee, further providing
for distribution of fee.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2314(c.1) of Title 58 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
ยง 2314. Distribution of fee.
* * *
(c.1) Additional distributions.--From fees collected under
this chapter and deposited in the fund for 2011 and each year
thereafter:
(1) One million dollars shall be distributed to the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for costs relating to
the review of applications for permits to drill
unconventional gas wells.
(2) One million dollars shall be distributed to the
commission for costs to administer this chapter and Chapter
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
33 (relating to local ordinances relating to oil and gas
operations).
(3) Six million dollars shall be distributed to the
department for the administration of this act and the
enforcement of acts relating to clean air and clean water.
(4) Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars shall be
distributed to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
for emergency response planning, training and coordination
related to natural gas production from unconventional gas
wells.
(5) Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars shall be
distributed to the Office of State Fire Commissioner for the
development, delivery and sustainment of training and grant
programs for first responders and the acquisition of
specialized equipment for response to emergencies relating to
natural gas production from unconventional gas wells.
(6) One million dollars shall be distributed to the
Department of Transportation for rail freight assistance.
(7) Three million dollars shall be distributed to the
Department of Health to be used:
(i) To conduct health services research to determine
if health services are adequate in areas of the
Commonwealth where unconventional gas well drilling
occurs. This subparagraph includes the collection and
reporting of health data in areas where unconventional
gas wells are drilled and training in occupational and
environmental medicine to health care providers.
(ii) To conduct research on the effects of air
quality on health and disease in areas where
unconventional gas wells are drilled. The research shall
20170SB0077PN0057 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
examine the impacts that short-term, intermediate and
long-term exposure to air contaminant emissions from
natural gas production and processing operations in
unconventional shale formations has on respiratory-
related hospital admissions, emergency room visits and
premature deaths. In order to translate population
studies to personalized medicine under this subparagraph,
a portion of the funds under this subparagraph shall be
allocated to support research to identify biomarkers of
exposure to determine susceptibility of disease and to
understand the direct effects of air pollutants generated
by oil and gas operations.
In conducting research under this paragraph, the Department
of Health shall partner or contract with other entities that
have established environmental health sciences research
programs within this Commonwealth.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20170SB0077PN0057 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18