RULES AND REGULATIONS

Title 25—ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BOARD

[25 PA. CODE CH. 78]

Oil and Gas Wells

[39 Pa.B. 6232]
[Saturday, October 24, 2009]

 The Environmental Quality Board (Board) by this order amends Chapter 78 (relating to Oil and Gas Wells) by adding new definitions and amending § 78.19 (relating to permit application fee schedule) as set forth in Annex A. The Board has the authority to establish fees, by regulation, under section 201 of the Oil and Gas Act (act) (58 P. S. § 601.201). Under this provision, the Board has the authority to set fees at an amount that bears a reasonable relationship to the cost of administering the act.

 This order was adopted by the Board at its meeting of July 21, 2009.

A. Effective Date

 These amendments will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin as final-form rulemaking.

B. Contact Persons

 For further information contact Ronald Gilius, Director, Bureau of Oil and Gas Management, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 5th Floor, 400 Market Street, P. O. Box 8765, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8461, (717) 772-2199 or Scott Perry, Assistant Counsel, Bureau of Regulatory Counsel, P. O. Box 8464, Rachel Carson State Office Building, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8464, (717) 787-7060. Persons with a disability may use the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service by calling (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users). This final-form rulemaking is available on the Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) web site: www.depweb.state.pa.us.

C. Statutory Authority

 The final-form rulemaking is adopted under the authority of section 201(d) of the act which authorizes the Department to establish, by regulation, well permit fees that bear a reasonable relationship to the cost of administering the act, section 604 of the act (58 P. S. § 601.604) which directs the Board to adopt regulations necessary to implement the act, and section 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 510-20), authorizing and directing the Board to adopt regulations necessary for the performance of the work of the Department.

D. Background and Purpose

 The act was passed on December 19, 1984, and established a $100 fee for oil and gas well permits. Section 201(d) of the act allows the Department to increase the fee by regulation. Under this provision, fees must be set at a level that ''bears a reasonable relationship to the cost of administering'' the act. Fees for traditional oil and gas wells have never been increased. However, fees for Marcellus Shale wells were recently increased on April 18, 2009.

 At the same meeting that the Board approved the proposed rulemaking that is made final by this order, the Board also approved a final-omit rulemaking that increased permit fees for wells that produce natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation. The proposed rulemaking also included the new Marcellus Shale permit application fees that were included in the final-omitted rulemaking to allow interested persons to comment on the new Marcellus Shale permit application fees as part of the proposed rulemaking. The Board committed to making appropriate changes to the Marcellus Shale permit application fees as part of the proposed rulemaking in response to public comments. On April 18, 2009, the final-omitted regulations increasing permit fees for Marcellus Shale wells were published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and became final. See, 39 Pa.B. 1982.

 There are three considerations that support a regulation that increases the permit application fees authorized by the act. First, the costs of administering the act have increased significantly since 1984 when the General Assembly established the $100 fee that the Department currently charges. This $100 per permit application fee does not currently bear a reasonable relationship to the cost of administering the act. Indeed, in 2008 permit fees only provided 15% of the revenue needed by the Department to administer the act. The remaining 85% was provided through the General Fund.

 Second, the number of permit applications that the Department reviews annually has grown dramatically over the past several years. In 2000, 1,354 wells were drilled in this Commonwealth. In 2008, the Department issued 7,927 well permits, of which 7,451 were for traditional oil and gas wells. The Department's current staffing levels for the Oil and Gas Program were established at a time when the Department reviewed considerably fewer permit applications than it reviews today. To properly review the number of applications that the Department currently receives and to inspect the operations at sites that currently posses a permit, the Department needs additional staff that the current $100 fee cannot support.

 Finally, there continues to be significant interest in the development and recovery of natural gas resources from the Marcellus Shale formation that underlies much of this Commonwealth. Despite the recent economic downturn and the decline of natural gas prices, Marcellus Shale well permitting and drilling is increasing. In 2008, the Department permitted 476 Marcellus Shale wells. In the first 5 months of 2009, the Department permitted 569 Marcellus Shale wells.

 The drilling and completion techniques that allow recovery of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale present new and expanded environmental considerations that the Department must evaluate to ensure the gas is recovered in an environmentally protective manner. Many of the environmental considerations are directly related to the use of water to recover natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation. Extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale requires a process known as ''hydraulic fracturing.'' Hydraulically fracturing the Marcellus Shale uses far greater amounts of water than traditional natural gas exploration. Large volumes of water are pumped into the formation, along with sand and other materials under high pressure, to fracture the rock surrounding the well bore. A single well can use millions of gallons of water to hydraulically fracture the rock. After the hydraulic fracturing process is completed, the wastewater must be properly managed.

 The significantly greater use of water at Marcellus Shale wells creates a series of environmental issues during the drilling and development of a Marcellus Shale well. First, there are a number of considerations associated with withdrawal of water, including the need to monitor and restrict the amount of withdrawal to avoid dewatering streams and causing pollution. Under State water law, a person who withdrawls water in the amounts generally associated with Marcellus Shale well development shall register the withdrawal with the Department. Second, there are a number of considerations associated with the use and storage of the water used for hydraulic fracturing at the well site or at other locations. Third, there are a number of considerations associated with the proper management, treatment and disposal of the wastewater.

 The Department expends considerable staff resources to review the additional information associated with a Marcellus Shale well permit. The fees provided by the final-omitted regulation provide the revenue needed to recover the Department's costs to properly evaluate a Marcellus Shale well permit application and to inspect the activities associated with Marcellus Shale well drilling. Therefore, the fees provided by the final-omitted regulation will remain unchanged.

E. Summary of Changes Made in the Final-form Rulemaking

§ 78.1 (relating to definitions)

 In response to comments by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC), the Department added definitions for Marcellus Shale well, ''nonvertical well'' and ''vertical well.''

§ 78.19(d) (relating to underpayment of fee)

 In response to several comments, the Department removed the 10% penalty for wells that are drilled longer than the length applied for. As amended, applicants only need to submit the difference between the correct fee and the previously submitted fee.

§ 78.19(e) (relating to money-back guarantee)

 This subsection stated that fees were nonrefundable. It was not the Department's intention to withhold fee refunds when the Department fails to take action on well permits within the time period required by the Department's money-back guarantee policy. This subsection has been deleted.

F. Summary of Comments and Responses on the Proposed Rulemaking

Fees for traditional wells

 Several commentators questioned the size of the fee increase for non-Marcellus Shale wells. They contend that for conventional shallow oil and gas well permitting, either no fee increase is needed or at most, a fee increase that tracks inflation since 1983 would be more appropriate. Using the Consumer Price Index published by the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fee for the wells would increase from the current $100 as enacted in the act to $216.

 The initial $100 permit fee did not cover the program costs in 1984. Program staff and most equipment have primarily been funded by the General Fund. Very few positions, equipment, or emergency well plugging has been funded by permit fees. Indeed, revenue provided by permit fees only covered 15% of the Department's administrative costs in 2008 with the remaining 85% funded through the General Fund. Also, permitting has increased by 398% in just the last 10 years with only recent increases in permitting staff and minimal increases in inspection staff. It is also important to note that the well permit fee is not an annual fee. Therefore, the entire program must be funded through new well permits. To provide the funding needed to employ sufficient staff and provide equipment necessary to carry out the Department's statutory duties through the well permit application fee, as envisioned by section 201(d) of the act, the permit fees must be increased in the amounts provided in the regulation to ''bear a reasonable relationship to the cost of administering this act.''

Fees based on well bore length

 Several commentators questioned the relationship between well bore length and the administrative costs incurred by the Department in reviewing and processing the application.

 Section 201(d) of the act states that well permit fees must ''bear a reasonable relationship to the cost of administering this act.'' The Department believes the fee structure satisfies this requirement. While there is not a direct relationship between well bore length and review time, deeper wells do tend to have a greater potential for environmental impacts and this in turn requires greater Department evaluation of the potential impacts. Any set permit fee will necessarily require one group of well drillers to pay more than others if the Department's total costs to administer the program are to be covered by the permit fee as envisioned by the law. The Department believes the ability to bear the cost of increased fees is better able to be borne by operators drilling deeper wells and to do otherwise would place an undue burden on smaller operators.

Penalty for underpayment of fee

 Commentators requested deletion of the provision in § 78.19(d) that penalizes the operator if the drilled well bore length exceeds the length specified in the permit application.

 This provision has been removed.

Fee refund

 Commentators questioned whether the Department would continue to refund permit fees according to its money-back guarantee policy in light of proposed § 78.19(e) which states that fees are nonrefundable.

 This subsection has been deleted. It was not the Department's intention to withhold fee refunds where the Department fails to take action on well permits within the time period required by the Department's money-back guarantee policy. However, the Department will not refund permit fees for wells that are permitted but not drilled or for wells that are drilled that have a shorter well bore length than the length permitted.

G. Benefits, Costs and Compliance

Benefits

 The residents of this Commonwealth and the regulated community will benefit from these regulations because the Department will be able to continue to uphold the purposes of the act. The purposes of the act are to:

 (1) Permit the optimal development of the oil and gas resources of this Commonwealth consistent with the protection of the health, safety, environment and property of the citizens of this Commonwealth.

 (2) Protect the safety of personnel and facilities employed in the exploration, development, storage and production of natural gas or oil or the mining of coal.

 (3) Protect the safety and property rights of persons residing in areas where such exploration, development, storage or production occurs.

 (4) Protect the natural resources, environmental rights and values secured by the Pennsylvania Constitution. (58 P. S. § 601.102)

 The public will benefit in two general ways. First, the public will benefit from a fiscal perspective when the costs of the regulatory program are imposed on the regulated community, as the act provides. For Marcellus Shale gas well development, the need for timely and special reviews has significantly increased the Department's cost of implementation of the program and it is in the public interest to impose these costs on the regulated community. The public also benefits from an environmental perspective because the Department will be able to hire additional staff to properly inspect new and existing traditional wells and to properly review Marcellus Shale well permit applications.

 The regulated community will also benefit because the regulated community wants timely reviews of permit applications, which state law also requires. Having the staff to evaluate well permit applications in a timely and environmentally protective manner will benefit the regulated community and the public.

Costs

 This rulemaking will not impose any additional costs on the Department. This proposal will help the Department offset the greater implementation costs to support new and extensive reviews of oil and gas permit applications.

 The base fee for vertical wells is $250 with an additional $50 per 500 feet of well bore drilled from 2,000 feet to 5,000 feet and an additional $100 per 500 feet for the well bore drilled past 5,001 feet. Nonvertical wells and Marcellus Shale wells have a base fee of $900 with an additional $100 per 500 feet of well bore drilled past 1,500 feet. An applicant for a vertical well with a well bore length of 1,500 feet or less for home use shall pay a permit application fee of $200.

Compliance Assistance Plan

 A compliance assistance plan is not necessary because the new fee structure does not create a situation where a well operator will be out of compliance with the regulation. Well permits that do not contain the appropriate fee are not complete. The Department will return the application to the applicant and tell the applicant what the appropriate fee is. To minimize this circumstance from occurring, the Department will publicize the new permit fee requirements on its web site and inform potential applicants of the new fee structure at upcoming industry trainings.

Paperwork Requirements

 No additional paperwork will be required as a result of this rulemaking. However, the Department will need to amend its well permit application form and instructions to incorporate and explain the new permit fee structure.

H. Sunset Review

 These regulations will be reviewed in accordance with the sunset review schedule published by the Department to determine whether the regulations effectively fulfill the goals for which they were intended.

I. Regulatory Review

 Under section 5(a) of the Regulatory Review Act (71 P. S. § 745.5(a)), on February 4, 2009, the Department submitted a copy of the notice of proposed rulemaking, published at 39 Pa.B. 838 (February 14, 2009) to IRRC and the House and Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committees (Committees) for review and comment.

 Under section 5(c) of the Regulatory Review Act, IRRC and the Committees were provided with copies of the comments received during the public comment period, as well as other documents when requested. In preparing these final-form regulations, the Department has considered all comments from IRRC, the Committees and the public.

 Under section 5.1(j.2) of the Regulatory Review Act (71 P. S. § 745.5a(j.2)), on September 16, 2009, these final-form regulations were deemed approved by the Committees. Under section 5.1(e) of the Regulatory Review Act, IRRC met on September 17, 2009, and approved the final-form regulations.

J. Findings of the Board

 The Board finds that:

 (1) Public notice of proposed rulemaking was given under sections 201 and 202 of the act of July 31, 1968 (P. L. 769, No. 240) (45 P. S. §§ 1201 and 1202) and regulations promulgated thereunder at 1 Pa. Code §§ 7.1 and 7.2 (relating to notice of proposed rulemaking required; and adoption of regulations).

 (2) A public comment period was provided as required by law, and all comments were considered.

 (3) These regulations do not enlarge the purpose of the proposal published at 39 Pa.B. 838.

 (4) These regulations are necessary and appropriate for administration and enforcement of the authorizing acts identified in Section C of this order.

K. Order of the Board

The Board, acting under the authorizing statutes, orders that:

 (a) The regulations of the Department, 25 Pa. Code Chapter 78, are amended by amending §§ 78.1 and 78.19 to read as set forth in Annex A, with ellipses referring to the existing text of the regulations.

 (b) The Chairperson of the Board shall submit this order and Annex A to the Office of General Counsel and the Office of Attorney General for review and approval as to legality and form, as required by law.

 (c) The Chairperson of the Board shall submit this order and Annex A to IRRC and the Committees as required by the Regulatory Review Act.

 (d) The Chairperson of the Board shall certify this order and Annex A and deposit them with the Legislative Reference Bureau, as required by law.

 (e) This order shall take effect immediately.

JOHN HANGER, 
Chairperson

 (Editor's Note: Section 78.15(b) was proposed to be amended at 39 Pa.B. 838. The amendment was adopted pursuant to the rulemaking which appeared at 39 Pa.B. 1982 (April 18, 2009). The proposal to amend § 78.1, amended in this rulemaking, was not included in the proposal at 39 Pa.B. 838.)

 (Editor's Note: For the text of the order of the Independent Regulatory Review Commission relating to this document, see 39 Pa.B. 5812 (October 3, 2009).)

 Fiscal Note: Fiscal Note 7-431 remains valid for the final adoption of the subject regulations.

Annex A

TITLE 25. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

PART I. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Subpart C. PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

ARTICLE I. LAND RESOURCES

CHAPTER 78. OIL AND GAS WELLS

Subchapter A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

§ 78.1. Definitions.

 (a) The words and terms defined in section 103 of the act (58 P. S. § 601.103), section 2 of the Coal and Gas Resource Coordination Act (58 P. S. § 502), section 2 of the Oil and Gas Conservation Law (58 P. S. § 402), section 103 of the Solid Waste Management Act (35 P. S. § 6018.103) and section 1 of The Clean Stream Law (35 P. S. § 691.1), have the meanings set forth in those statutes when the terms are used in this chapter.

 (b) The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

*  *  *  *  *

 Marcellus Shale well—A well that when drilled or altered produces gas or is anticipated to produce gas from the Marcellus Shale geologic formation.

*  *  *  *  *

 Nonvertical well—

 (i) A well drilled intentionally to deviate from a vertical axis.

 (ii) The term includes wells drilled diagonally and wells that have horizonal bore holes.

*  *  *  *  *

 Vertical well—A well with a single vertical well bore.

*  *  *  *  *

Subchapter B. PERMITS, TRANSFERS, AND OBJECTIONS

§ 78.19. Permit application fee schedule.

 (a) An applicant shall pay a permit application fee according to the following schedule:

Vertical Wells		Nonvertical Wells		Marcellus Shale Wells
Total Well Bore Length in Feet	Total Fee	Total Well Bore Length in Feet	Total Fee	Total Well Bore Length in Feet	Total Fee
0 to  2,000	$250	0 to  1,500	$900	0 to  1,500	$900
2,001 to  2,500	$300	1,501 to  2,000	$1,000	1,501 to  2,000	$1,000
2,501 to  3,000	$350	2,001 to  2,500	$1,100	2,001 to  2,500	$1,100
3,001 to  3,500	$400	2,501 to  3,000	$1,200	2,501 to  3,000	$1,200
3,501 to  4,000	$450	3,001 to  3,500	$1,300	3,001 to  3,500	$1,300
4,001 to  4,500	$500	3,501 to  4,000	$1,400	3,501 to  4,000	$1,400
4,501 to  5,000	$550	4,001 to  4,500	$1,500	4,001 to  4,500	$1,500
5,001 to  5,500	$650	4,501 to  5,000	$1,600	4,501 to  5,000	$1,600
5,501 to  6,000	$750	5,001 to  5,500	$1,700	5,001 to  5,500	$1,700
6,001 to  6,500	$850	5,501 to  6,000	$1,800	5,501 to  6,000	$1,800
6,501 to  7,000	$950	6,001 to  6,500	$1,900	6,001 to  6,500	$1,900
7,001 to  7,500	$1,050	6,501 to  7,000	$2,000	6,501 to  7,000	$2,000
7,501 to  8,000	$1,150	7,001 to  7,500	$2,100	7,001 to  7,500	$2,100
8,001 to  8,500	$1,250	7,501 to  8,000	$2,200	7,501 to  8,000	$2,200
8,501 to  9,000	$1,350	8,001 to  8,500	$2,300	8,001 to  8,500	$2,300
9,001 to  9,500	$1,450	8,501 to  9,000	$2,400	8,501 to  9,000	$2,400
9,501 to 10,000	$1,550	9,001 to  9,500	$2,500	9,001 to  9,500	$2,500
10,001 to 10,500	$1,650	9,501 to 10,000	$2,600	9,501 to 10,000	$2,600
10,501 to 11,000	$1,750	10,001 to 10,500	$2,700	10,001 to 10,500	$2,700
11,001 to 11,500	$1,850	10,501 to 11,000	$2,800	10,501 to 11,000	$2,800
11,501 to 12,000	$1,950	11,001 to 11,500	$2,900	11,001 to 11,500	$2,900
		11,501 to 12,000	$3,000	11,501 to 12,000	$3,000

 (b) An applicant for a vertical well exceeding 12,000 feet in total well bore length shall pay a permit application fee of $1,950 + $100 for every 500 feet the well bore extends over 12,000 feet. Fees shall be rounded to the nearest 500-foot interval.

 (c) An applicant for a nonvertical well or Marcellus Shale well exceeding 12,000 feet in total well bore length shall pay a permit application fee of $3,000 + $100 for every 500 feet the well bore extends over 12,000 feet. Fees shall be rounded to the nearest 500-foot interval.

 (d) If, when drilled, the total well bore length of the well exceeds the length specified in the permit application, the operator shall pay the difference between the amount paid as part of the permit application and the amount required by subsections (a)—(c).

 (e) An applicant for a vertical well with a well bore length of 1,500 feet or less for home use shall pay a permit application fee of $200.

 (f) At least every 3 years, the Department will provide the EQB with an evaluation of the fees in this chapter and recommend regulatory changes to the EQB to address any disparity between the program income generated by the fees and the Department's cost of administering the program with the objective of ensuring fees meet all program costs and programs are self-sustaining.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 09-1987. Filed for public inspection October 23, 2009, 9:00 a.m.]

 

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