PA Environmental Quality Board approves updated oil and gas drilling regulations

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently announced updates to the state’s oil and gas drilling regulations, which the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) recently approved.

Changes to the rule include modernization and strengthening to regulate conventional and unconventional industries to better protect public health and safety and the environment. The “Environmental Protection Performance Standards at Oil and Gas Well Sites” rulemaking, which impacts Chapters 78 and 78a, advanced with a 15 to four vote from the board, which is an independent body that adopts the state’s environmental regulations. The revisions considered public input from over 25,000 community members from throughout the state.

Specifically, the updated regulation is intended to improve water resources protection, public health and safety protection measures and data management, as well as foster more transparency and address landowner concerns.