Posted: | February 16, 2021 09:00 AM |
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From: | Representative Martin T. Causer |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Conventional Oil & Gas Act |
In the near future I plan to reintroduce legislation that would enact a Conventional Oil and Gas Act with provisions that make it reflective of today’s conventional oil and gas industry. This bill would be complimentary to previous action by the General Assembly and the Governor that called for separate regulations for the unique family owned conventional oil and gas operators as opposed to the Act 13 regulated unconventional (Marcellus and Utica) gas industry. The conventional oil and gas industry has been in Pennsylvania and contributing to our economy for more than a century and a half. With the Marcellus Shale boom and the proliferation of advanced drilling methods, a new type of oil and gas industry developed in Pennsylvania. As a result, Act 13 of 2012 was passed to address some of the concerns and issues that were specific to this new unconventional industry. Although it was intended to address new issues with the unconventional industry, Act 13 also placed an unbearable burden on the much smaller conventional producers and over time has brought the conventional industry to near collapse. This legislation will provide a legislative framework for regulations specific to conventional oil and gas producers in a way that protects the environment while preserving this valuable industry. This legislation was House Bill 1635 from last session. A similar companion bill Senate Bill 790 was passed last session however was vetoed by the Governor. Please join me in sponsoring this important legislation. Previous co-sponsors: CAUSER, RAPP, METCALFE, BARRAR, BENNINGHOFF, BERNSTINE, COOK, COX, DAY, DIAMOND, DOWLING, DUNBAR, DUSH, EVERETT, FRITZ, GABLER, GLEIM, GREINER, GROVE, HEFFLEY, HERSHEY, HILL-EVANS, IRVIN, JAMES, JONES, JOZWIAK, KAIL, KAUFER, KAUFFMAN, KEEFER, M. K. KELLER, MACKENZIE, MARSHALL, MASSER, METZGAR, MILLARD, MOUL, NELSON, NESBIT, O'NEAL, OBERLANDER, ORTITAY, OWLETT, PICKETT, POLINCHOCK, PYLE, RADER, REESE, ROAE, RYAN, SANKEY, SAYLOR, SCHEMEL, SCHMITT, SIMMONS, SNYDER, SONNEY, STRUZZI, TOPPER, WALSH, WARNER, WENTLING, WHEELAND, ZIMMERMAN and FARRY |
Introduced as HB1144