Wolf Administration Advances Tougher Gas Drilling Rules
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania state environmental regulators say they want to get tougher on how the Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling industry stores waste, dampens noise and affects water resources, schools and playgrounds.
Department of Environmental Protection officials gave a Monday briefing in which they described key elements of a forthcoming plan to update drilling industry regulations.
Agency officials say the proposal will be open for public comment and they hope it becomes regulation in 2016.
In the proposal, agency officials say they plan more stringent reviews of proposed drilling sites that are within 100 feet of streams or wetlands and require drillers to create site-specific noise control plans.
They also want tougher regulations over waste storage and to analyze how drilling each new well could affect drinking water sources, schools and playgrounds.
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