Gas at a Glance

New standards set on drilling wastewater

The Environmental Quality Board (EQB) of the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has approved new regulations to protect Pennsylvania waterways from the effects of natural gas drilling wastewater. The new regulations are intended to ensure that drilling wastewater containing high concentrations of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) does not pollute drinking water supplies, damage industrial equipment or endanger aquatic life. The rules will move onto the Environmental Resources and Energy committees in the state House and Senate, as well as to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission for a 30-day review period. EQB members also approved proposed rules that will strengthen well construction standards and define a drilling company’s responsibility for responding to gas migration issues. Once finalized, the new rules will require well operators to conduct quarterly inspections of all wells and report the results to DEP. The proposed regulations must now be reviewed by the Attorney General’s office and will then be published in the PA Bulletin for public comment. The board also enhanced existing rules governing erosion, sediment control and stormwater. The new rules include an updated permit fee structure. The erosion and sediment rules will now go on to the General Assembly and to the IRRC for a 30-day review period. For more information visit www.depweb.state.pa.us and select “Public Participation.”

DEP’s Barbara Sexton joins Chesapeake Energy

PA Environment Digest reports that Barbara Sexton, Executive Deputy Secretary in the PA DEP, has left the agency to become Director of Governmental Affairs in Pennsylvania for Chesapeake Energy, a Marcellus Shale natural gas development firm that owns over 1.5 million aces of Marcellus Shale leases. Sexton joined the DEP in 1986 and has served in a number of capacities including Executive Deputy Secretary for Policy and Communications since 2009. Previously, she served as DEP Policy Director for five years, managing development of policy, regulations and review programs. She also served as Regulatory Coordinator for the Department of Environmental Resources and Director of the Cumberland County Conservation District. Sexton was appointed to the position of Special Deputy Secretary in February 2003, serving as a senior advisor on regulatory issues. She also served as Executive Deputy Secretary, the number two position in DEP, from 2001-2003.