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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 10-1324

PROPOSED RULEMAKING

ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY BOARD

[ 25 PA. CODE CH. 78 ]

Oil and Gas Cementing and Casings; Additional Public Hearing

[40 Pa.B. 4154]
[Saturday, July 24, 2010]

 The Environmental Quality Board (Board) has scheduled an additional public hearing for the purpose of accepting comments on the proposed rulemaking to amend Chapter 78 (relating to oil and gas wells) to update cementing and casing standards, published at 40 Pa.B. 3845 (July 10, 2010). The additional public hearing will be held July 26, 2010, at 7 p.m. at the Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest Regional Office, Waterfront Conference Rooms A and B, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4745.

 The proposed rulemaking updates existing requirements regarding the drilling, casing, cementing, testing, monitoring and plugging of oil and gas wells, and the protection of water supplies. The proposed rulemaking includes updated material specifications and performance testing and amended design, construction, operational, monitoring, plugging, water supply replacement and gas migration reporting requirements. The additional requirements will minimize gas migration and will provide an increased degree of protection for both public and private water supplies.

 The previously-referenced hearing is in addition to four other hearings scheduled by the Board in Tunkhannock on July 19, 2010, Williamsport on July 21, 2010, Meadville on July 22, 2010, and Pittsburgh on July 22, 2010, to receive comments from the public on the proposed rulemaking.

Written Comments

 Interested persons are invited to submit comments, suggestions or objections regarding the proposed rulemaking to the Environmental Quality Board, P. O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477 (express mail: Rachel Carson State Office Building, 16th Floor, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101-2301). Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. Comments, suggestions or objections must be received by the Board on or before August 9, 2010. Interested persons may also submit a summary of their comments to the Board. The summary may not exceed one page in length and must also be received by the Board on or before August 9, 2010. The one-page summary will be provided to each member of the Board in the agenda packet distributed prior to the meeting at which the final-form rulemaking will be considered.

Electronic Comments

 Comments may be submitted electronically to the Board at RegComments@state.pa.us and must also be received by the Board on or before August 9, 2010. A subject heading of the proposed rulemaking and a return name and address must be included in each transmission.

Public Hearings

 Persons wishing to present testimony at the previously-referenced hearing in Pittsburgh are requested to contact the Environmental Quality Board, P. O. Box 8477, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477, (717) 787-4526 at least 1 week in advance of the hearing to reserve a time to present testimony. Oral testimony is limited to 10 minutes for each witness. Witnesses are requested to submit three written copies of their oral testimony to the hearing chairperson at the hearing. Organizations are limited to designating one witness to present testimony on their behalf at each hearing.

 Persons in need of accommodations as provided for in the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 should contact the Board at (717) 787-4526 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how the Board can best accommodate their needs.

Copies of the Proposal

 The full text of the proposed rulemaking was published at 40 Pa.B. 3345, and is available at https://www.pabulletin.com as well as on the Department of Environmental Protection's web site at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us (Quick Access: ''Public Participation''; then choose ''Proposals Open for Comment''). Copies of the proposed rulemaking are also available from the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Oil and Gas, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 5th Floor, 400 Market Street, P. O. Box 8765, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8765, (717) 772-2199, ra-epoilandgas@state.pa.us.

JOHN HANGER, 
Chairperson

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 10-1324. Filed for public inspection July 23, 2010, 9:00 a.m.]


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