Packed House Attends Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Hearing on HB 2213

gantdaily.com
February 20, 2010 at 5:24 AM
by Aaron T. Evans

CLEARFIELD, PA – On Wednesday well over 100 people turned out to listen to testimony at public hearing held by the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee at the Knights of Columbus. The hearing was held to solicit testimony on the proposed House Bill 2213, which would amend the existing Oil and Gas Act of 1984. The purpose of the bill is to provide further protection to surface land and water supplies from natural gas drilling activities.

HB 2213 would:

-Require the DEP to inspect Marcellus well sites during each drilling phase;

-Extend to 2,500 feet, from 1,000 feet, the presumed liability of a well polluting a water supply;

-Require disclosure of the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing – fracing – of the natural gas from the earth;

-Update bonding requirements to cover the costs of decommissioning a well;

-Clarify local governments’ traditional authority to regulate oil and gas activities.

The meeting opened with members of the committee giving comments on HB 2213, gas well drilling and Pennsylvania’s water system.

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