PA Environment Daily

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

The PA Environment Digest prepared a policy paper in August of 2021 on the issue of requiring natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines to have insurance or financial assurance in place to cover property damage, bodily harm and environmental cleanup resources if a leak or explosion happens. Read more here. Read more here.

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Natural Gas 2030 Natural Resources Environmental Protection 97

PA Environment Daily

JUNE 20, 2023

Is this what we should expect from the natural gas industrial infrastructure in Washington County and Pennsylvania? December 25 Christmas Morning Explosion Kasey Duran and her family live about 1,500 feet from the Energy Transfer Revolution Cryogenic Natural Gas Processing Plant in Smith Township, Washington County.

Natural Gas 98

Natural Gas 2022 2012 Environmental Protection 98

Legal Planet

JANUARY 3, 2024

Radical right-wing policy strategists already have an elaborate battle plan for a second Trump administration and it includes a scorched-earth approach to dismantling environmental protections and climate policies. This latest document is dripping with disdain for federal bureaucracies, especially environmental regulators.

2024 162

2024 2025 2016 Paris Agreement 162

Legal Planet

MARCH 19, 2024

But although protecting coal production is no longer much of a national issue, keeping coal-fired power plants open has percolated as an issue at the state level. In 2016, Trump was all in for coal. It remains to be seen how long increasingly uneconomic coal generators remain online. When he took office, the U.S.

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Politics 2024 Conservation 2016 218

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 3, 2022

Wolf directed the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct an evaluation of how it regulates conventional oil and gas wells to prevent new abandoned wells, tighten review of permit transfers, review compliance with environmental safeguards and make recommendations for changes and actions, including criminal sanctions.

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Natural Gas Waste Regulations Law 98

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 11, 2022

According to its Oil and Gas Program Compliance Database , the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued 315 Notices of Violation (NOV) just for the first three-quarters of 2022. Davis On Environmental, Energy Issues? Read more here.] Shapiro, Lt.

Natural Gas 94

Natural Gas Fossil Fuels Waste 2022 94

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 8, 2022

EHP’s Evidence-based recommendations Where shale gas development activity exists, public safety cannot be guaranteed. Though the new regulations offer a range of acceptable setback distances, no facilities may be sited less than 2,000 feet from an occupied building. The appeal of these protections is still before the PA Supreme Court.

Regulations 92

Regulations Natural Gas Air Pollution 2020 92

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 1, 2022

On December 1, Kurt Klapkowski, Acting DEP Deputy Secretary for Oil and Gas Management, said the schedule for considering updates to environmental protection standards for conventional oil and gas drillers will be up to the incoming Shapiro-Davis Administration. Read more here. Read more here. Read more here.

Regulations 52

Regulations Waste Environmental Protection Natural Gas 52

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 19, 2021

On August 19, Kurt Klapkowski, Director of DEP’s Bureau Of Oil and Gas Planning and Program Management, told the PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council DEP is looking to develop the data to defend the development of a program to allow the road dumping of drilling wastewater across the state under new conventional drilling regulations.

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Regulations 2016 2017 2019 124

PA Environment Daily

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

The pace of companies abandoning conventional oil and natural gas wells without plugging them continues to accelerate in 2022 threatening to put Pennsylvania’s taxpayer-funded well plugging program even further behind. Read more here. During those same six years, DEP issued over 4,270 notices of violations for abandoning wells.

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Natural Gas Law Regulations Waste 97

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 26, 2022

The agenda for the December 1 DEP Oil & Gas Technical Advisory Board meeting includes updates on Chapter 78 regulation changes, the new federal abandoned well plugging program and more. The last draft of the waste handling regulation update was posted by DEP in September, 2021. Read more here. Read more here. Read more here.

Regulations 52

Regulations Natural Gas Environmental Protection 2016 52

PA Environment Daily

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

On September 20, Ali Tarquino Morris, Director Of DEP’s Bureau of Waste Management, told the Citizen Advisory Council conventional oil and gas operator plans to dispose of their wastewater by dumping it on dirt and gravel roads as a dust suppressant continue to fail to meet the state’s Residual Waste Regulations. Read more here.

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Waste Regulations Natural Gas 2021 91

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 7, 2023

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the April 8 PA Bulletin -- -- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 8 PA Bulletin inviting comments on its intent to issue a Title V Air Quality permit for the Monessen Coke (Coal) Plant in Monessen, Westmoreland County. (

Environmental Protection 102

Environmental Protection 2017 Regulations 2016 102

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 19, 2023

On April 19, the PA Supreme Court issued a ruling overturning a Commonwealth Court decision that blocked the ability of the Department of Environmental Protection to protect public resources and playgrounds from the adverse impacts of unconventional shale gas well operations. The regulations included Sections 78a.1

Natural Gas 97

Natural Gas Regulations 2016 2020 97

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 5, 2022

Residents must be informed fully about health risks to which they are exposed. -- It is not enough to regulate sources of emissions singly. For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the Environmental Health Project website or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

Environmental Protection 80

Environmental Protection Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Technology 80

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 14, 2022

Environmental Protection Agency wrote a letter to DEP accepting DEP’s final regulations setting VOC/methane limits on conventional and unconventional oil and gas facilities for evaluation which “stops the imposition of federal highway funding sanctions that were set to take effect in Pennsylvania on December 16, 2022.”

Regulations 40

Regulations Natural Gas Clean Air Act 2016 40

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 2, 2021

The PA Environment Digest prepared a policy paper on the issue of requiring natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines to have insurance or financial assurance in place to cover property damage, bodily harm and environmental cleanup resources if a leak or explosion happens. Read more here. Read more here.

Natural Gas 98

Natural Gas 2030 Natural Resources Environmental Protection 98

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 8, 2023

Final VOC/Methane Limits The meeting packet includes a three-page list of questions for DEP on the final regulation setting VOC/methane emission limits on conventional oil and gas operations for discussion. PA DEP Public Notice Dashboards: -- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. Read more here.

Regulations 68

Regulations Natural Gas 2013 Law 68

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 29, 2024

Most of these pieces were about the company’s support for a seemingly independent network of anti-regulation, “free-market” nonprofits that spread falsehoods about the reality and seriousness of climate change. Rex Tillerson, ExxonMobil CEO from 2006 to 2016. And Rose did, at times, ask follow-up questions.

Fossil Fuels 348

Fossil Fuels Climate Change 2007 Carbon Emissions 348

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

The Department of Environmental Protection has issued a record 5,653 notices of violation to conventional oil and gas operators in 2023, with two months left in the year, according to DEP’s November 3, 2023 Weekly Workload Report. billion cubic foot uncontrolled venting of natural gas in November 2022.

2023 123

2023 Natural Gas Environmental Protection 2022 123

Law Columbia

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

Alaska Oil & Gas Association v. 24, 2016); Alaska Oil & Gas Association v. The plan must specifically address how EPA will consider the effects of Clean Air Act regulation on the coal industry. Pritzker , Nos. 14-35806, 14-35811 (9th Cir. opinion Oct. Pritzker , Nos. 16-35380, 16-35382 (9th Cir. opening brief Oct.

2016 40

2016 Climate Change Fossil Fuels Greenhouse 40

PA Environment Daily

JANUARY 24, 2023

Final VOC/Methane Limits The meeting packet includes a three-page list of questions for DEP on the final regulation setting VOC/methane emission limits on conventional oil and gas operations for discussion. Background On Agenda Items Here is some background on the possible agenda items. Read more here.] Read more here.]

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Natural Gas Regulations 2013 Law 118

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 28, 2022

The oil and gas industry had a record 2022 in many ways-- natural gas prices increased over 94.7 The industry generally had record LNG natural gas exports linking the U.S. DEP also ordered a “top to bottom” review of how it regulates underground natural gas storage areas. Read more here.

Natural Gas 98

Natural Gas Waste Regulations 2022 98

Vermont Law

DECEMBER 19, 2018

strongly assisted by low natural gas prices and competition in wholesale energy markets. In September 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to loosen methane regulations over the oil and gas industry that would have otherwise harnessed $30 million dollars of wasted energy.

Regulations 52

Regulations 2018 Natural Gas 2016 52

Columbia Climate Law

DECEMBER 2, 2019

On Friday, November 22, the Sabin Center submitted comments opposing an Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposal to rescind regulations limiting methane emissions from new oil and natural gas facilities (the “Methane New Source Performance Standards” or “Methane NSPS”).

Regulations 52

Regulations Natural Gas Air Pollution Ground-Level Ozone 52

PA Environment Daily

JANUARY 10, 2024

The Department of Environmental Protection issued a record 6,860 notices of violation to conventional oil and gas operators in 2023, according to DEP’s December 29, 2023 Weekly Workload Report. Plum Borough was the site of a natural gas home explosion in August that killed six people. more than in 2021 and 26.6%

2023 114

2023 2021 Natural Gas 2018 114

PA Environment Daily

JANUARY 10, 2024

Click Here for a summary of 2022 shale gas and conventional violations. Winter Storm Elliot Causes Natural Gas Infrastructure Failure Natural gas infrastructure failures during Winter Storm Elliot resulted in the proposed imposition of an unprecedented $1.8 Read more here. Read more here. Read more here.

2023 115

2023 Natural Gas 2022 Waste 115

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 1, 2022

The Supreme Court sharply limited the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to slash carbon pollution from power plants. The leadoff articles in the series included a commentary from Lisa Heinzerling , a Georgetown University environmental law professor, who crafted the victorious brief in the 2007 Massachusetts v.

Fossil Fuels 268

Fossil Fuels Air Pollution Climate Change 2016 268

PA Environment Daily

JUNE 17, 2022

This editorial first appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on June 17, 2022 -- Republican state legislators are poised to cost Pennsylvania billions of dollars in federal highway funding at the behest of the oil and gas industry. The already-written regulation does not need to be reworked. Metcalfe’s committee wants to require it.

Regulations 68

Regulations Environmental Protection 2016 Natural Gas 68

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 3, 2022

State law was not strong enough to prevent the explosion of the Revolution natural gas pipeline in Beaver County in 2018 caused by poor choices on a pipeline route and inadequate construction precautions to prevent the pipeline from breaking sparking the explosion. Read more here. Read more here. Read more here. Read more here.

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Law Natural Gas 2018 Regulations 92

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 16, 2023

These violations are particularly serious because both conventional oil and gas wells and unconventional shale gas wells are fracked with high pressure, high volume liquids, chemicals and sand to crack open the rock formations to allow the freer flow of oil and natural gas to the surface.

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2016 2017 2018 2020 105

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 6, 2024

Information provided by the Department of Environmental Protection in response to a Right To Know request shows DEP took enforcement action against 14 conventional oil and gas well operators that resulted in collecting $422,365 in penalties and bond forfeitures in 2023. Read more here.

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2023 2021 2020 Natural Gas 120

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 6, 2022

Anderson also reported road spreading of waste, 240 barrels of it, for the first time since 2017, told regulators in August, “Per our conversation we have not been disposing brine for spreading for well over a year and are not in the future.” Road spreading of unconventional [shale gas] drilling wastewater was banned in 2016.

Natural Gas 97

Natural Gas Waste 2018 2021 97

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 15, 2022

On March 15, the Environmental Quality Board voted 17 to 2 to approve the final regulation reducing VOC/methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations. Representatives of the conventional oil and gas industry voted against the regulation. Opposition Glendon King, the alternate for Rep.

Regulations 96

Regulations Natural Gas Pollution Control Air Pollution 96

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 3, 2023

A variety of studies have documented that radioactivity is brought to the surface with natural gas and oil production and travels through natural gas pipelines, oil refining systems, natural gas processing and liquid and solid waste disposal and treatment facilities. Why Does It Matter?

Radiation 89

Radiation Natural Gas Atmosphere Waste 89

Circle of Blue

FEBRUARY 8, 2023

Farming-related contaminants already pollute thousands of drinking water wells from Minnesota to Missouri, and virtually every mile of streams and rivers in Iowa is impaired with little regulation to rein in the pollutants. In 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified phosphorus and nitrogen discharges from U.S.

Law 363

Law Carbon Dioxide 2022 Clean Water Act 363

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 20, 2022

These higher costs are being driven by a major overreliance on natural gas, which has sharply spiked in price and is currently the dominant fuel source in the US for both home heating and electricity generation. Henry Hub is the national benchmark for wholesale gas prices (Source: US Energy Information Administration ).

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Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Electricity Natural Gas 302