Harrisburg –
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Environmental
Quality Board announced today that the public comment period for a
proposed regulation for environmental protection performance standards
associated with oil and gas activities will open on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The
Environmental Quality Board (EQB) is a 20-member independent board
chaired by the Secretary of DEP that adopts all of the department’s
regulations and considers petitions to change regulations. During the
public comment period, the EQB will be hosting seven public hearings
across Pennsylvania and offer multiple ways to submit comments.
Along
with the EQB hearings, DEP will be holding two webinars on Thursday,
Dec. 19, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Friday, Jan. 3, from 9:30 to
10:30 a.m., to present information and answer questions on the proposed
regulation.
“Public
participation is a key part to forging the best regulations possible,”
DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. “An exceptional number of hearings are
being offered by the EQB to gather information and to be sure that
people’s voices are heard.”
The
proposed regulation implements key provisions of Act 13 of 2012,
including further consideration of impacts to public resources, such as
parks and wildlife areas; the prevention of spills; the management of
waste; and the restoration of well sites after drilling.
Additionally,
the draft rulemaking also includes standards affecting the construction
of gathering lines and temporary pipelines, and includes provisions for
identifying and monitoring abandoned wells close to proposed well
sites.
Public Hearings
People
wishing to present verbal testimony at a hearing are requested to
contact the EQB at least one week in advance of the hearing to reserve a
time. Those who wish to present testimony at the hearing may use the
address below or call the EQB at 717-787-4526 to reserve time to
testify. All relevant written and oral comments that are received at a
public hearing will be considered when finalizing the regulation.
Witnesses
are limited to five minutes of testimony and are requested to submit
three written copies of their testimony to the hearing chairperson at
the hearing. Organizations are limited to designating one witness to
present testimony on their behalf at each hearing. Read more...
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=20296&typeid=1
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=20296&typeid=1
