THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY KASUNIC, COSTA, FERLO, FONTANA, LEACH, LOGAN, MUSTO, O'PAKE, STOUT, TARTAGLIONE AND WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

SENATOR M. WHITE, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, AS AMENDED, MARCH 9, 2010  

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," further

providing for certain well requirements.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 207(b) of the act of December 19, 1984

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

read:

Section 207.  Protection of fresh groundwater; casing

requirements.

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(b)  To prevent the migration of gas or fluids into sources

of fresh groundwater and to prevent pollution or diminution of

fresh groundwaters, there shall be run and permanently cemented

a string or strings of casing in each well drilled through the

fresh water bearing strata to a depth and in a manner prescribed

by regulation by the department. The well operator shall provide

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the department with a cement quality log or other department-

approved method to evaluate the adequacy of the cement to meet

the prescribed regulation prior to drilling ahead. The

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Environmental Quality Board shall promulgate regulations

governing the design, construction, completion and operation of

oil and gas wells to minimize and manage the threat that the

migration of gas or fluids present to drinking water supplies

and public safety.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days 

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immediately.

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