September 24, 2019
On September 20, 2019 a bipartisan group of over 30 Pennsylvania state House members sent a joint letter to Gov. Tom Wolf urging him to take immediate action on regulations which would reduce methane leakage from natural gas wells in Pennsylvania according to a report from PA Environment Digest Blog.
PA Governor, Tom Wolf — Wikipedia
A similar request was made to Gov. Wolf by another group of bipartisan Senate and House members on September 17th.
The regulations which were part of a methane reduction strategy Wolf announced in January 2016 that would apply to the approximately 11,000 unconventional wells drilled in Pennsylvania since 2004.
These regulations are already more than two years behind schedule according to Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, who coordinated the joint letter.
“Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is leaking from these wells and into the atmosphere at well pads, storage tanks, compressor stations, processing facilities, and along pipelines,” said Vitali. “The Wolf administration must demonstrate a sense of urgency by devoting enough staff and modifying these rules to regulate methane directly in order to quickly present them to the Environmental Quality Board for consideration. It’s time that we considered our environment a top priority.”
“Our communities are counting on us to ensure that we meet the commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions,” said Rep. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester). “Now is the time for Pennsylvania to stand as a leader. It is imperative that we act now.”
The request asks the Wolf administration to bring the proposed VOC-Methane emissions regulations before the Environmental Quality Board as soon as possible, but no later than the board’s November 19 meeting.
What this means to you
Bi-partisan Pennsylvania lawmakers are asking Gov. Tom Wolf to act on bringing his proposed VOC-Methane emission regulations before the state’s Environmental Quality Board no later than the board’s November 19th meeting.
MIRATCH can help
Contact MIRATECH for stationary engine emission solutions in Pennsylvania.