Pa. must submit oil and gas emissions regulations plans to EPA by mid-December or face sanctions
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Hundreds of millions of dollars in federal highway funds are at risk as Pennsylvania faces a deadline to get its plans for oil and gas emissions regulations submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, according to State Impact Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection received a letter from the EPA earlier this year that warned of impending sanctions if Pennsylvania did not submit plans to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds at oil and gas sites by Dec. 16.
The Environmental Quality Board approved a final rule governing VOCs at unconventional wells in June. However, conventional wells were left out to avoid conflict and remain the lynchpin to meet the EPAs requirements and secure the federal funds that hang in the balance.
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.