PA Campaign for Clean Water urges action on buffers, gas well discharges
On May 17, PADEP and the Environmental Quality Board proposed new regulations that would require 150 foot buffers for new development on High Quality and Exceptional Value streams in Pennsylvania…and that would require wastewater from Marcellus Shale natural gas wells to be treated before being discharged into streams.
The new regulations in Chapter 102 would require that developers preserve a buffer zone of 150 feet along all Exceptional Value (EV) and High Quality (HQ) streams. In addition, developers would be required to create or preserve a 150 foot forested buffer along EV or HQ streams where water quality does not meet current standards. Changes to regulations in PADEP’s Chapter 95 would require that wastewater from Marcellus Shale wells be treated before being discharged into our streams. These wells produce millions of gallons of water, 6 times saltier than the ocean. Because many Pennsylvania fish species cannot survive with this much salt, these new rules, among the strictest in the nation, would make sure that freshwater streams are protected.
Both sets of regulations still need to be approved by the state Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) at its meeting on June 17.
The Pennsylvania Campaign for Clean Water urges residents and other stakeholders to write or email IRRC, urging them to approve PADEP’S proposed Chapter 102 regulations (IRRC Docket #2783) AND Chapter 95 Regulations (IRRC Docket #2806).
Comments may be emailed, mailed or faxed. Emailed comments should be addressed to irrc@irrc.state.pa.us. Mail to IRRC, 333 Market Street, 14th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101; or faxed to (717) 783-2664.
More Information from the Campaign for Clean Water >>
Check out our Riparian Buffer case study for a look inside a buffer in Montgomery County, PA:
