July 22: DEP public hearing on Oil & Gas Act

The DEP will hold a series of Public Comment Meetings about Proposed Chapter 78 changes to provide stronger regulations for oil and gas wells, including Marcellus wells.

MEETINGS NOTICE: The PA Department of Environmental Protection will hold four meetings during the month of July 2010 to receive comments on the proposed changes to 25 Pa. Code Chapter 78. The new and amended sections are §§78.1, .51, .52, .71-.73, .81-.85, .88, .89, .91-.96, .121 and .122. The meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. at each location. They will be held July 19 Tunkhannock, PA; July 21 in Williamsport, PA; July 22 in Meadville, PA; and July 22 in Pittsburgh, PA.

7 p.m. in conference rooms A & B at the DEP Southwestern Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, Pa. For more information, look at Gas Well Casing Amendments to Chapter 78 (PDF - 99KB). To learn more about Marcellus shale drilling, check out this comprehensive MSD web site.

Note that because of the scheduling conflict with the EPA hearing in Canonsburg, an additional DEP hearing has been scheduled for July 26.