Unmasking PA DEP’s War on Shale via Methane Regulations

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Since the beginning of this year, MDN has warned our readers about a push by the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) to revise methane emissions rules, something called Air Quality General Permit 5 (GP-5), and Air Quality General Permit 5A (GP-5A). According to the DEP, proposed GP-5 and GP-5A, “establish updated Best Available Technology (BAT) requirements for the industry regarding air emission limits, source testing, leak detection and repair, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements for the applicable air pollution sources.” The Marcellus industry perceives the changes to be a threat to the future of the industry in the state (see DEP GP-5 & 5A Regs – Imminent Threat to PA Marcellus Drilling). In March, MDN editor Jim Willis heard former PA DEP Secretary Mike Krancer say if GP-5A is enacted as written, it will result in a 12-18 month moratorium on new production in Pennsylvania (see Big News from the O&G Awards Northeast Industry Summit). This week Mike Krancer and another expert provided testimony to the PA House of Representatives State Government Committee Hearing about GP-5 and 5A, sounding the alarm and making the case that the PA DEP is unfairly targeting the shale industry with these revised regulations. We go a step further and call it a war on the shale industry…

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