PA IRRC Votes to Approve Rushed Conventional VOC Regulation

Yesterday the Pennsylvania Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) voted to approve the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) and its Environmental Quality Board's (EQB) rammed-through (in a rush) regulation to control volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and by extension methane, for conventional drilling sites throughout the state (see PA EQB Rams Through VOC Reg to Control Conventional Well Emissions). The DEP had SIX YEARS to get this regulation done and missed deadline after deadline. With a Dec. 16 deadline approaching to finish up the reg or risk losing half a billion dollars in federal highway funds, the DEP tried to bully the conventional drilling industry into accepting its onerous regulation with no comment period, no feedback, no nothing. Earlier this week, the Republicans on the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee voted to send a letter to the IRRC disapproving of the EQB’s final, rushed regulation (see PA House Environmental Ctte Votes to Disapprove Final VOC Reg).

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