Regulation

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The laws and regulations dictating how energy is extracted and transported.

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May 1, 2013

Senate Panel Approves Bills to Expand Natural Gas Services

A pair of bills moving through the state legislature aim to give consumers more access to Pennsylvania’s abundant natural gas reserves. Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) is the primary sponsor of Senate Bills 738 and 739. Although he lives in the midst of the Marcellus Shale drilling, he doesn’t have the option of natural gas service at [...]

The Clean Railroads Act: The Oil and Gas Industry Exemption You’ve Never Heard Of

The federal Clean Railroads Act of 2008 was meant to close a loophole in the law and increase state and local oversight of polluted rail yards across the country. But it left open a smaller loophole for the oil and gas industry, according to Mark Szybist, an attorney for the environmental group PennFuture. “This is not one [...]

April 29, 2013

In Sunbury, Drilling Waste, Politics, And A Pile Of Dirt

A pile of dirt has sparked controversy in the city of Sunbury, Northumberland County. Recently, an otherwise civil city council meeting devolved into a shouting match. Councilman Joe Bartello and Mayor David Persing sparred over the city’s stormwater management rules. “It’s already a law!” Bartello yelled. “Council doesn’t have to vote to get a stormwater plan!” “Just [...]

April 24, 2013

Harvard Study Gives Failing Grade to Fracking Industry Disclosure Website

Bloomberg reports on a new study from Harvard Law School, which finds the fracking industry disclosure website, FracFocus fails as a regulatory compliance tool: Using the voluntary registry for compliance with state disclosure requirements is “misplaced or premature” because of spotty reporting, lack of a searchable database and an “overly broad” allowance for trade secrets, [...]

Lawmakers Urge Against Drilling In Loyalsock State Forest

State lawmakers and environmental groups are urging the state not to pursue natural gas drilling in the Loyalsock State Forest. The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has come under scrutiny over whether or not it plans to allow Anadarko Petroleum to access mineral rights the company owns underneath the forest. At issue [...]

April 23, 2013

DEP: State Is Getting ‘Serious’ About Promoting Natural Gas Vehicles

At the same time a package of bills promoting compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles is making its way through the House, the state Department of Environmental Protection is promoting a grant program to encourage more CNG use as well. The DEP will soon begin taking applications for its Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) program, which [...]

April 22, 2013

DEP Proposes Increasing Gas Well Permit Fees

The Scranton Times-Tribune reports the state Department of Environmental Protection is looking into raising the fees drillers pay for shale gas well permits, to keep up with the demands on the department: The department estimates that it will receive $14.7 million in well permit fees in fiscal year 2014-15 if the increase is adopted, rather [...]

April 18, 2013

Senate Committee Endorses Obama’s Energy Nominee

The Associated Press reports the Senate Energy Committee has overwhelmingly endorsed the nomination of Ernest Moniz to head the U.S. Department of Energy. The committee approved Moniz in a 21-1 vote this morning: Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina was the only lawmaker to oppose Moniz. Scott says he opposes the president’s plan to cut funding [...]

April 17, 2013

Bills Would Give Millions In Marcellus Tax Breaks To Promote Transportation Uses

A package of bills currently making its way through the state legislature would provide millions of dollars of tax breaks to promote the use of Pennsylvania’s shale gas for transportation purposes. Nine bills are part of the “Marcellus Works” package sponsored by House Republicans. The measures include tax credits, grants, and loan programs to incentivize the use of natural [...]

April 15, 2013

Proposal Examines Fees for Industrial Use of Pennsylvania’s Water Resources

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports on an effort in Harrisburg to impose a new fee for the “consumptive use” of water. It would impact industries like gas drillers and bottled water companies. Pennsylvania is estimated to have more than 86,000 miles of streams, 4,000 lakes and 80 trillion gallons of groundwater. Right now the state doesn’t receive any [...]

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