PA Environment Daily

JANUARY 2, 2023

By Cat (Cathy) Lodge, Washington County Resident My family’s home is in Washington County and we have more Marcellus and Utica Shale natural gas industrial facilities than any other county in Pennsylvania. Counties across the state have witnessed harm from the heavy industrial activity associated with natural gas exploration.

Natural Gas 98

Natural Gas 2018 Waste 2015 98

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

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. more than in 2021 and 26.6% Plum Borough was the site of a natural gas home explosion in August that killed six people.

2023 115

2023 2021 Natural Gas 2018 115

PA Environment Daily

JULY 26, 2023

On July 26, the Department of Environmental Protection and Sunoco Pipeline L.P. The violations occurred between 2018 and 2021 in Chester, Berks, Blair, Cambria, Chester, Cumberland, Delaware, Perry, and York Counties. million penalty to DEP for the 2018 Revolution Natural Gas Pipeline explosion in Beaver County.

Natural Gas 98

Natural Gas 2018 Environmental Protection 2017 98

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.

Natural Gas 98

Natural Gas 2030 Natural Resources Environmental Protection 98

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 23, 2023

Elder Vogel (R-Beaver) at the March 22 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on DEP’s budget request , the Department of Environmental Protection said it is projecting a $1,581,000 deficit in funding for the Oil and Gas Regulation Program. In 2015, the Oil and Gas Program had an authorized complement of 226 positions.

Regulations 94

Regulations 2023 Natural Gas 2022 94

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.

Natural Gas 98

Natural Gas Law Regulations Waste 98

PA Environment Daily

AUGUST 31, 2022

More complete DEP records now show conventional oil and gas drillers reported spreading 977,671 gallons of untreated drilling wastewater on Pennsylvania's roads in 2021, according to an updated report by the Better Path Coalition released Wednesday. In 2021, the Bureau began reaching out to drillers to request determinations.

2021 98

2021 Waste Environmental Protection Regulations 98

PA Environment Daily

MAY 8, 2023

Environmental Protection Agency released new regulations to address fugitive methane emissions from oil and gas well sites and centralized production facilities. The regulations, for the first time, embrace recent advances in new methane detection technologies. In December 2022, the U.S. Read more here.

Regulations 74

Regulations Natural Gas Technology Technology 74

PA Environment Daily

SEPTEMBER 1, 2022

On September 1, the Department of Environmental Protection said any waste generated by the new conventional oil and gas well plugging program will NOT be exempt from hazardous waste requirements, unlike the same or similar wastes generated from active oil and gas production wells and facilities. Why Does It Matter?

Waste 98

Waste Regulations Radiation Natural Gas 98

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 1, 2021

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy and Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committees are scheduled to hold a hearing October 4 on the “consumer and economic impacts of failing to invest in Pennsylvania’s natural gas infrastructure." A list of witnesses scheduled to testify is not available at this time.

Natural Gas 98

Natural Gas Greenhouse Politics Renewable Energy 98

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.

Regulations 52

Regulations Natural Gas Environmental Protection 2016 52

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

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. That’s 25% more than in 2021. Read more here. Read more here.

2023 125

2023 Natural Gas Environmental Protection 2022 125

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 13, 2024

On March 7, the Independent Fiscal Office issued its latest Pennsylvania Electricity update that reports the electricity grid is dependent on one fuel for 59% of the state’s electricity generation-- natural gas-- followed by nuclear power-- 31.9%, coal-- 5.4% In 2010, the mix was 48% coal, 34% nuclear, 15% gas and 2% renewables.

Electricity 109

Electricity Natural Gas Renewable Energy Nuclear Power 109

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 (2017-2021). Read more here.

2023 122

2023 2021 2020 Natural Gas 122

Clean Energy Law

MAY 24, 2022

The AB 398 changes to Cap-and-Trade Program started to phase-in on January 1, 2021. Today, the Program regulates roughly 450 entities responsible for roughly 85% of the state’s GHG emissions. Half of all ARBOCs must provide direct environmental benefits to the state of California. Participants are subject to holding limits.

2030 130

2030 Carbon Dioxide Natural Gas Regulations 130

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 8, 2022

By Josh Raulerson, PA Environmental Council Data published in February by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency show a startling 9.6% increase in carbon dioxide pollution from the Commonwealth’s power plants between 2020 and 2021. Reprinted from the PA Environmental Council Blog.)

Greenhouse 59

Greenhouse 2021 Carbon Dioxide Clean Energy 59

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 20, 2022

US ratepayers very likely will pay even more for electricity and heating this winter compared to the already-expensive winter of 2021-2022. The US Energy Information Administration is forecasting the wholesale price of gas to reach its highest level since the winter of 2009-2010 in inflation-adjusted terms.

Fossil Fuels 276

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Electricity Natural Gas 276

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 13, 2023

On February 13, the York County-based Evangelical Environmental Network submitted 103,436 comments from individual pro-life Christians calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen supplemental rulemaking for Existing and New Source Standards for Reducing Methane and Toxins from the Oil/Gas Section (Docket # ID No.

Natural Gas 89

Natural Gas 2021 2019 Environmental Protection 89

Law and Environment

JULY 1, 2022

EPA on Thursday, June 30, 2022, curbing the power of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants across the country. The Court determined that regulating the country’s power grid and phasing out coal presented a major question. What did the Court decide?

Clean Energy 130

Clean Energy Climate Change Clean Air Act Greenhouse 130

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 14, 2021

On October 14, the Department of Environmental Protection presented a proposed regulation that would adopt California’s existing Zero Emission Vehicle Program that requires 22 percent of the new passenger and light duty vehicle fleets offered for sale in the state be zero emission vehicles starting in model year 2025.

2025 52

2025 Nitrogen Oxides Regulations Ground-Level Ozone 52

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 6, 2022

barrels of produced water in Forest County in 2021. Tachoir Resources, a company that entered 278 records of road spreading a total of nearly 600 barrels of drilling waste in 2021 says it subcontracted the hauling to another company, Anderson Energy Services. The company reported spreading 1,004.01

Natural Gas 98

Natural Gas Waste 2018 2021 98

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 24, 2023

This editorial first appeared in the Scranton Times on February 24, 2023 -- Many state lawmakers long ago abandoned their constitutional duty to preserve the environment by instead representing the natural gas industry. Now, a report by the state Department of Environmental Protection reflects that legislative malpractice.

Waste 131

Waste Regulations 2017 Natural Gas 131

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 18, 2023

From February 11 to 17, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 513 inspection reports that resulted in reporting 48 violations of environmental regulations-- 28 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 20 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

Natural Gas 104

Natural Gas Waste Regulations Environmental Protection 104

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 19, 2023

These individuals are tentatively scheduled to provide comments-- -- David Hess, Former Secretary of DEP -- Kelsey Krepps, Sierra Club -- Kurt Klapkowski, Acting DEP Deputy for Oil & Gas Management -- Arthur Stewart, Cameron Energy -- Adam Peltz, Environmental Defense Fund Corrective Legislation On April 19, Rep. Read more here.

Natural Gas 93

Natural Gas Waste 2017 Natural Resources 93

PA Environment Daily

NOVEMBER 17, 2022

On November 17, the Department of Environmental Protection announced CNX Gas Company LLC has paid two civil penalty assessments totaling $200,000 for violations at well sites in Richhill Township, Greene County. By March 18, 2021, CNX had removed standing fluids and contaminated soil caused by the two incidents.

Natural Gas 105

Natural Gas 2019 2021 Regulations 105

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 8, 2022

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 9 PA Bulletin of a May 25 public hearing on the initial air quality permit for the Lackawanna Energy Center Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant in Jessup, Lackawanna County. (

Natural Gas 52

Natural Gas Clean Energy Environmental Protection Greenhouse 52

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 23, 2023

GW record from 2021. But if plant owners actually do follow through on their retirement plans, there will be real, tangible public health and environmental benefits. Note: this is adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars and is based on the amount those plants emitted in 2021, the EIA’s most recent year of finalized data.

Fossil Fuels 177

Fossil Fuels 2023 Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides 177

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 8, 2023

From April 1 to 7, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 488 inspection entries that resulted in reporting 34 violations of environmental regulations-- 31 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 2 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

Natural Gas 87

Natural Gas Atmosphere Waste 2017 87

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 16, 2024

The Department of Environmental Protection issued violations to conventional oil and gas well operators for abandoning and not plugging 140 of their wells last week. Shafer 1 conventional gas well operated by Crawford Energy Search Co. The original violation was issued on November 24, 2021. [No

2024 111

2024 Natural Gas Fossil Fuels 2022 111

PA Environment Daily

JANUARY 12, 2024

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 13 PA Bulletin it has received and is reviewing the Act 2 Land Recycling Final Report by Equitrans on the cleanup of soil around the conventional gas well that failed and resulted in the uncontrolled venting of 1.1 PA Bulletin, page 213 ) Read more here.

Air Pollution 107

Air Pollution Natural Gas 2023 Environmental Protection 107

PA Environment Daily

JUNE 3, 2023

From May 27 to June 2, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 529 inspection entries that resulted in reporting 107 new and continuing violations of environmental regulations-- 83 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 23 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

Natural Gas 96

Natural Gas Waste 2023 Environmental Protection 96

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 31, 2023

PA Bulletin, page 1855 ) Waste Permits -- Range Resources-Appalachia, LLC: DEP invites comments on WMGR123 General Permit application for oil and gas waste processing facility at Leavitt Bruce Tank Pad in Buffalo Twp., miles of natural gas pipeline in Potter County. ( miles of natural gas pipeline in Potter County. (

Natural Gas 89

Natural Gas Waste Regulations Fossil Fuels 89

PA Environment Daily

JUNE 12, 2023

By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal In the summer of 2021, a twin-engine special research aircraft took off from State College, PA. Over three weeks, the plane flew 10,000–28,000 feet over oil and gas wells, landfills and coal mines in four regions of the state. During the flights, the researchers found 63 super emitters.

Air Pollution 98

Air Pollution Regulations Natural Gas Carbon Dioxide 98

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 94

Radiation Natural Gas Atmosphere Waste 94

PA Environment Daily

DECEMBER 10, 2021

This editorial first appeared in the Citizens Voice on December 9, 2021 -- The gas industry in Pennsylvania has succeeded the coal and railroad industries in making the state Legislature a nearly wholly owned subsidiary, but you’d never know it by hearing one of the industry’s top executives assess the industry’s treatment by the state government.

Natural Gas 59

Natural Gas 2012 Renewable Energy 2021 59