Proposed Rulemaking For Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells Doesn't Cut It

Proposed Rulemaking For Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells Doesn't Cut It

The next Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board Meeting is:Tuesday April 23, 2013 - 10:00 a.m. In
Room 105,at the Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA

http://youtu.be/RI6_g-uN9Uc

DRAFT PROPOSED RULEMAKING:
Chapter 78 Subchapter C Annex A


Proposed revisions "§ 78.52a. Abandoned and orphaned well identification.
(a) Prior to hydraulically fracturing the well, the operator of a natural gas well or horizontal oil well shall identify the location of orphaned or abandoned wells within 1,000 feet of the well bore, including the entire length of a horizontal well bore in accordance with subsection (b). Prior to hydraulically fracturing the well, the operator of a vertical oil well shall identify the location of orphaned or abandoned wells within 500 feet of the well bore in accordance with subsection (b)."

"Identify the location" These proposals do not require operators or the owners of abandoned, unplugged wells to plug them.

Pennsylvania needs regulations in place to protect

ground water from contamination. Left unplugged, these wells are at an increased risk of becoming pathways for natural gas and fluids used during the fracturing process. 

Please email the Technical Advisory Board Members:
 http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/oil_and_gas_technical_advisory_board_%28TAB%29/18260

Let them know that these proposals are woefully inadequate. These wells need to be plugged to prevent conduction of fracking fluids to the potable water aquifers!!