32s( jul 212020 07-21...by laura perkins 94 — 96 by nora johnson 96 — 99 by corinne mayland 99...
TRANSCRIPT
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
* * * * * * * * *
- 32S(
IN RE: CONTROL OF VOC EMISSIONS FROM
OIL AND NATURAL GAS SOURCES
* * * * * * * * *
HE RING:
LOCATION:
cc IT N E SS ES
Goods on,
Harding,
Elizabeth
Debra Top
Halaire,
Nissen, A
6:02 p.m.
w a n
fant,
June
TELEPHONIC HE
Heath Asbury,
Eric Langenmayr
Rachel Frankfor
Schongar, Elis
f, Rachel Kathl
Marva Bradley,
lexander Downin
D e put y
25, 202
A RING
P a trick
Edward
d, Arvin
sa Weiss
een Sica
Dr. Robe
g, Laure
ting,
5 St.
ane
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
BEFORE: JESSICA SHIRLEY, Policy Director
Laura Edinger, Regulatory Coordinator
Darek Jagiela, Host
Jennifer S
Brian Chal
Thursday,
1 JUL 212020
inciepencien Regulatory[ Review Commission
Pagano, Nathaniel
Ketyer, Diane
d Ravikunar,
Michele Fet
Meyer, Thoma
rt Little, Di
1 Beitsinger,
R. Gascoigne
this transcript
uthori zation
agency
Reporter: Alicia
Any reproduction of
is prohibited without a
by the certifying
2
WITNESSES: Quanita Kendrick, Sean Welch, Beatrice
Zovich, David Bertenhal, Laura Perkins, Nora Johnson,
Corinne Nayland, Sandra D’Hara, Jessica Beliwoar,
Bernard Greenberg, Gerald Walsh, Joan Farb, Jonathan
Lutz, Patrick Henderson, Maurice M. Sampson, II,
Sheila Dattilo, Bryn Hammarstrom, Thomas Hoffman,
Christine Smerker, Breana Hashman, Phyllis
Terwilliger, Lais Santoro, Barbara Clifford, James
Coffey
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1
2
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6 — 13
5 STATEMENT
6 By 14 — 18
By 18 — 22
8 By 23 — 26
9 By 27 — 30
10 By 3D — 34
11 By 34 36
12 By 36 — 39
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14 By 43 — 45
15 By 46 — SO
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21 By 69 71
22 By 72 — 73
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24 By 78 — 80
25 By 80 — 82
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
I N 0 E X
OPENING REMARKS
By Jessica Shirley
Heath Asbury
Patrick Pagano
Nathaniel Goodson
Eric Langenmayr
Edward Ketyer
Diane Harding
Rachel Frankford
Arvind Ravikumar
Elizabeth Schongar
Elissa Weiss
Michele Fetting
Debra Topf
Rachel Kathleen Sica Meyer
Thomas St. Halaire
Marya Bradley
Dr. Robert Little
Diane Nissen
Alexander Downing
Laurel Beitsinger
Quanita Kendrick
4
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—89DB
I N D E X (Cont.)1
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By Sean Welch 82 — 86
By Beatrice Zovich 86 — 90
By David Bertenthal 90 — 94
By Laura Perkins 94 — 96
By Nora Johnson 96 — 99
By Corinne Mayland 99 — 103
By Sandra (Billi) O’Hara 103 — 106
By Jessica Beliwoar 106 — 109
By Bernard Greenberg 109 — 112
By Gerald Walsh 112 — 115
By Joan Farb :15 — 118
By Jonathan Lutz 118 — 123
By Patrick Henderson 123 — 126
By Maurice N. Sampson, II 126 — 128
By Sheila Dattilo 129 — 132
By Br-’n Harnmarstrom 132 — 135
By Thomas Hoffman 13€ — 136
By Christine Smerker 139 — 141
By Breana Hashman 141 — 145
By Phyllis Terwilliger 145 — 147
By Lais Santoro 148 — 152
By Barbara Clifford 153 — 156
By James Coffey 157 — 158
AMONG PARTIES 158 — 159DISCUSSION
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1 EXHIBITS
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Policy
Protect
Quality
today,
Edinger
who many
Brian Ch
Director
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Board a
we have
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Volatil
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PROCEEDINGS
MS. SHIRLEY: Okay.
Good evening. I would
the Environmental Quality Board
on the proposed rulemaking for
e Organic Compounds, or VOC for
ns from Oil and Natural Gas Sources
My name is Jessica Shirley.
like to welcome
‘5, EQB, public
the Control of
short,
I’m the
rulemaking was adopted
on December 17th, 2019. It
trol
emissions
for the Department of Environmental
am representing the Environmental
t today’s hearing. Assisting me
Darek Jagiela who is our host, Laura
ulatory coordinator, Jennifer Swan,
have already corresponded with, and
who is our Deputy Policy Director.
I officially call this hearing to
.m. This public hearing will be
entirety. The purpose of this
ormally accept testimony on the
king.
This proposed
order at
recorded
hearing i
proposed
by the EQB
24
25
at its meeti
proposes
technolog
ng
to adopt reasonably available con
y, or RACT, requirements and RACT
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1 limitations for oil and natural gas sources of VOC
2 emissions.
3 This proposed rulemaking would apply
4 statewide to owners and operators of one or more of
5 the following oil and natural gas sources of VOC
6 emissions: storage vessels in all segments except
7 natural gas distribution, natural gas—driven
8 pneumatic controllers, natural gas—driven diaphragm
9 pumps, centrifugal compressors and reciprocating
10 compressors, and fugitive emission components.
11 In accordance with the Federal Clean
12 Air Act and the Commonwealth’s Air Pollution Control
13 Act, this rulemaking proposes to establish the VOC
14 emission limitations and other requirements of the
15 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s, or EPA’s,
16 recommendations in the Control Technique Guidelines
17 for Oil and Natural Gas Industries as RACT for these
18 sources in this Commonwealth. The EPA defines RACT
19 as the lowest emission limitation that a particular
20 source is capable of meeting by the application of
21 control technology that is reasonably available
22 considering technological and economic feasibility.
23 VOCs are precursors to the formation
24 of ground—level ozone, a public health and welfare
25 hazard. The control measures will provide VOC
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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In
11
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ruThmaking.
detailed cx
included in
on DEP’s we
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have
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rulemaking
and select
In order to
to comment on t
h the following
I will call
ered to testify
were assigned a
reg
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regulations
give everyone
his proposal,
ground rules:
upon the witnesse
at this hearing.
number indicating
1
like
5 who
All who
the
25 order in which witnesses will be called upon to
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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emission reductions of approximately 4,404 tons per
year, as well as methane emission reductions of
approximately 75,603 tons per year as a co—benefit.
These reductions would benefit the health and welfare
of the approximately 12.8 million residents and the
numerous animals, crops, vegetation and natural areas
of this Commonwealth by reducing the amour.: of
ground—level ozone air pollution resulting from these
sources
This proposed rulemaking will be
submitted to the EPA for approval as a revision to
the Commonwealth’s State Implementation Plan
following promulgation of the final—form rulemaking.
This concludes the summary of the
would like to access a moreIf you
planar
this
bpage
13
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19
20
21
22
23
24
ulatory amendments
u can visit eComment
rtunity
stablis
regist
stered
an equa
I would
9
1 speak. Only those who registered as indicated on the
2 EQB webpage will be called upon to provide testimony.
3 Testimony is limited to five minutes
4 for each witness. Please note that written and
5 spoken testimony carry the same weight. If you
6 should run out of time for your spoken testimony, we
7 will read the rest of your comments from your written
8 testimony. As advised in registration
9 correspondence, please provide a copy of your written
10 testimony to [email protected], and Laura is going
11 to be providing this information in the chat box, or
12 the Q&A box for you.
13 Your email must note that you are
14 submitting testimony for the proposed rulemaking,
15 Control of VOC Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas
16 Sources, along with your first and last name, your
17 mailing address, email address, and if you are
18 commenting on behalf of an organization.
19 Testimony is not required to be five
20 minutes long. If others who provide testimony before
21 you are making similar statements to yours, you are
22 free to abbreviate or summarize your verbal testimony
23 at this time, and still provide the full testimony
24 via email. This will help us to hear from more
25 commenters at this hearing. And we have a lot.
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1 We have a substantial number of people
2 who would like to testify at this hearing, and the
3 EQB and the Department want to provide an opportunity
4 for everyone to be heard. That being said, we may
5 run out of time tonight to hear from all who have
6 registered. We will call the last witness at 9:00
7 p.m.
8 If we run out of time and you still
9 wish to provide verbal testimony for this rulemaking,
10 we have set up a telephone line for — for you to
11 call. You may call the EQB phone line at 717—787—
12 452€ and provide your testimony via voicemail. To
13 have your testimony included as part of the formal
14 public record for this regulation, you must provide
15 all the information previously requested. The name
16 of the rulemaking, your name, phone number, address
17 and email address. If you do not provide all
18 requested information in your voicemail, it will not
19 be included as part of the public record.
20 You will receive an email confirmation
21 that your testimony was received within five business
22 days of making the call. So any help you can provide
23 by spelling your email address would be very
24 appreciated. If you do not receive an email
25 confirmation, your testimony was not recorded.
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1 Please note that the voicemail system
2 is an additional option provided to anyone who
3 registered and is unable to testify at this hearing.
4 You do not have to provide verbal testimony in order
5 to be included in the public record. All written
6 testimony submitted to [email protected] will also
7 be reviewed by the EQB and the Department and
8 included in the public record. The public comment
3 period closes on — midnight, July 27th. Public
10 comments will not be accepted for the public records
11 for this rulemaking after that date.
12 Through the registration process,
13 prospective commenters were requested to designate
4 one witness to oresent testimony on behalf of an
15 organtzation.
:6 Please state your name, address, and
17 affiliation if applicable for the record prior to
18 presenting your testimony. The EQB would appreciate
13 your heTh by’ spelling out your name and terms that
20 may not be generally familiar so that the transcript
21 can be as accurate as possible.
22 Because the purpose of a hearing is to
23 receive comments on the proposal, EQB members or DEP
24 staff cannot address questions about the proposed
25 rulemaking during the duration of the hearing.
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—89DB
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1 In addition to, or in place of, verbal
2 testimony presented at today’s hearing. Interested
3 persons may also submit written comments on this
4 proposal. Again, written and verbal comments hold
5 the same weight when considered in the finalization
6 of this proposed rulemaking. All testimony and
7 written comments provided become part of the official
B public record.
9 All comments must be received by the
10 EQB on or before midnight, July 27th, 2020. There
11 are a few different ways to submit written comments
12 separate from testimony. Comments may be submitted
13 through eComment, accessible from DEP’s website, by
14 clicking the eComment link at the bottom of DEE’s
15 homepage, or comments may be submitted by email at
16 [email protected]. A subject heading of the
17 proposed rulemaking and a return name and address
18 must be included in each email.
19 Comments may also be sent through U.S.
20 postal mail addressed to the Environmental Quality
21 Board, P.O. Box 6477, Harrisburg, PA 17105. Again,
22 Laura is posting this information in the chat box.
23 All testimony received at this
24 hearing, as well as written comments received by
25 midnight on July 27th, 2020, will be considered by
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
the EQB and will be included in a comment and
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a small laptop s
multiple large s
office,
understand if you are now
which I’m sure many of you
working from home.
Okay.
So first up, we have number
Derek, do we have Patrick
MR. JAC-IELA:
MS. SHIRLEY:
MR. JAGIELA:
not
SHI
on ri
RLEY:
Maybe we can
number two, Heath Asbury?
MR. ASBURY:
back. Do we have
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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_____________
All right.
I will start imer.
MR. ASBURY: Okay.
I’m Heath Asbury at 226 2nd Street in
Pennsylvania. I live — I live just
Pittsburgh in the Borough of Aspinwall, a
nity in the Allegheny River Valley.
River valley communities in Allegheny
as mine have been disproportionately
poor air quality and air pollutants. I’m
you today to urge the DEP to improve
to ensure the protection of our region’s
air.
While there’s much that could and
should be done, I am asking specifically that the DEP
take the following actions in order to reduce methane
emissions, which is ensure that low producing wells
are frequently inspected and repaired in order to
minimize the release of methane into air, prohibit
the reduction of the frequency of inspections based
on prior inspection outcomes.
I’ve lived in the Pittsburgh region
jority of my 47 years. My family is active
running, hiking, and biking in local parks
the growing network of river and city
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
MS. SHIRLEY: Hi.
your t
As pinwa 11,
outside of
small commu
County such
affected by
speaking to
legislation
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for the ma
outdoors,
and along
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1 trails in the area. During my lifetime, and even
2 during the lives of my two teenage daughters, we’ve
3 witnessed very disturbing trends in the quality of
4 the region’s air. All too frequently, I step outside
5 the front door and immediately notice an unmistakable
6 smell of air pollutants. I find myself logging poor
7 air quality notifications on Smell Pittsburgh
8 multiple times a week.
9 As summers become hotter, unhealthy
10 ground level ozone levels are increasing. And as we
11 are experiencing changes in our climate, we are
12 seeing disturbing trends in the region’s production
13 and distribution of oil and gas. Oil and gas is
14 being drilled, compressed and processed. You can
15 find methane leaking, along with all organic
16 compounds. VOCs such as benzene are harmful to
17 health and contribute to ground level ozone or smog
18 that damages lungs.
19 I grew up in Indiana Township, about
20 15 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh in a quiet valley
21 where my parents purchased land in the early 1970s.
22 Part of their attraction to the land where my father
23 still lives in his BOs was the clean water and air,
24 both of which are now at risk due to a Range
25 Resources fracking well operation less than a mile
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1 from the property along with countless surface wells
2 nearby. The view from my parents’ living room window
3 is now obscured by an enormous pump jack and holding
4 tank on the edge of the neighbor’s property.
5 Of all the harm caused by the recent
6 oil and gas development from the heavy truck traffic,
7 noise pollution, well fires and explosions, concerns
8 for well and spring water, and unsightly well tanks
9 and pump jacks, the most concerning aspect is the
10 threat to our air quality, a threat that is pervasive
11 and impossible to escape. It adversely affects the
12 public health of the entire region. The warming
13 climate will only make our region’s air pollution
14 problem worse.
15 Common sense methane testing
16 regulations will help Pennsylvania reach Governor
17 wolf’s greenhouse emission reduction goals and put us
18 on a path to reach the goals set forth by the Paris
19 Climate Agreement to mitigate the effect of warming
20 climate.
21 As the Trump administration unravels
22 vital pollution protections at the federal level, we
23 are looking to our state leaders to enact safeguards
24 to protect our public health.
25 with all the air quality challenges in
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1 our region, including coal fired power, fine
2 particulates from automobile exhaust, industrial
3 pollution and the erosion of federal air quality
4 standards, it’s imperative that we keep methane
5 pollution to a minimum and place strict regulations
6 on polluters.
7 The challenges to our region’s air are
8 clear and urgent. As a lifelong Pittsburgher, I’ve
9 noticed a consistent decline in our air quality, a
10 decline that affects my family’s daily life and the
11 decisions we make. Is the air healthy enough today
12 to go for a jog? Should I close my girls’ windows
13 because of the daily air quality report? Is it safe
14 for my 85 year old father to sit on his deck at his
15 house in the shadow of seesawing pump jack on — a
16 stone’s throw away?
17 In Indiana Township specifically, but
18 also in the entire region of Western Pennsylvania,
19 there’s a stunning number of surface wells and
20 drilling activities. We need the DEP to enact
21 protections, including the increased inspection and
22 repair of existing wells and for these inspections to
23 remain in effect as these wells age.
24 Thank you for your time, and for your
25 consideration of the important public health topic.
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1 Thank you.
2 MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Mr. Asbury.
3 Next up — I heard we have Patrick Pagano on the line.
4 Patrick, are you unmuted?
5 MR. PAGANO: Yes, I — I should be.
6 Can — can you hear me?
7 MS. SHIRLEY: I can hear you. I’m
8 going to start your timer.
9 MR. PAGANO: All right.
10 So should I start?
11 MS. SHIRLEY: Yes, go ahead.
12 MR. PAGANO: All right. Okay.
13 So I want to thank you all, the DEP,
14 for giving me this opportunity to speak. I’m here to
15 implore you to institute the most protective methane
16 and VOC rule that cuts emissions from existing oil
17 and gas operations to safeguard our families and the
18 climate.
19 I’m a Ph.D., biomedical scientist and
20 full professor at Pitt who reads and critically
21 reviews the scientific literature daily. I’m also a
22 resident of Franklin Park and a co—founder of Protect
23 Franklin Park, recently renamed Protect Allegheny
24 County. We are committed to improved air quality in
25 our Borough and the County, which as you know again,
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group of
that one
hon zonta
of reside
meetings
re
find
received an F rating from the American Lung
Association.
About a year and a half ago, a co
Franklin Park residents were shocked to
of our most prized parks was up for a
1 fracking lease. This galvanized hundreds
nts who showed ut in droves at borough
to block the lease.
Under the agents of Protect Franklin
and advocated for a
nance. Kany in our
under the charge of Act
1 residential communities
ical drilling in our own
Park, we organized, educated
restrictive oil and gas ordi
community were stunned that
13, we as suburban and rura
would be vulnerable to vert
backyards.
The response was swift and vociferous
as people across political divides were strongly
oposed to this for a variety of reasons, including
one, that scientists, through myriad studies, have
known for decades that air pollution is harmful to
human health. And this is especially true for older
adults, people with underlying health conditions,
communities of color, pregnant women and children
also increasing the risk of adverse outcomes,
including low birth weight, preterm birth, and birth
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1 defects, what air pollution does not respect
2 boundaries and harms people’s health across long
3 distances, and as such, schools and communities near
4 oil and gas operations are exposed to harmful
5 pollution that puts our children and communities’
6 health at risk. This pollution, we know, causes our
7 or exacerbates respiratory and cardiovascular
8 diseases, asthma, hospitalization, blood disorders,
9 nerve disorders, cancer and contributes to climate
10 change.
11 So we organized and educated residents
12 through public education. We worked with a largely
13 receptive Borough council to our delight to enact a
14 restrictive ordinance to mitigate risk to public
15 health and safety that come with fracking.
16 Incidentally, our council sent a letter to our
17 representative, asking for a waiver of the
18 accommodations to the industry on the basis that this
19 activity was completely incompatible with the core
20 objective of protecting citizens.
21 We received, to our surprise, no response
22 from two of the three, and one indicated that she was
23 not in a position to help. Importantly, the last
24 electoral season, we supported four anti—fracking
25 candidates for our council and succeeded in getting
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1 three of the four into office. We now fight on to
2 protect our children and community in all ways
3 possible since our legislature is clearly not
4 protecting us.
5 And that brings me here today to urge
6 you to support and go beyond the provision in
7 Governor Wolf’s oil and gas VOC emission rules for
8 the Commonwealth. Reductions in methane pollution
9 will have the benefit of reducing associated harmful
10 VOCs such as benzene that cause cancer. Our families
11 need the most comprehensive protection that the state
12 and DEP can provide.
13 So we urge you to specifically demand:
14 one, inspections and repairs of wells producing lower
15 amounts of oil and natural gas. It should be clear
16 to all on this panel that these low producing wells
17 are responsible for more than half of the methane
18 pollution from the oil and gas industry in
19 Pennsylvania.
20 And two, elimination of the part of
21 the draft rule that allows oil and gas operators to
22 reduce the frequency of inspection. Research clearly
23 shows that large uncontrolled leaks are random and
24 can only be detected with frequent and regular
25 inspections.
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
a
you are likely all well
Pennsylvania —
n on climate change.
growing number of groups
ultural, veteran, public
siness organizations which
Finally, as
aware, a strong majority of
Pennsylvanians support actio
This includes diverse and
such as faith, youth, agric
health, conservation and bu
support action on methane emissions.
At a time when the Trump
is delinquent and h
ismantling vital pol
level, the onus fal
cannot afford to n
Now is the time
al difference, and
adm
5
at
lea
ser
and
inistration
temically d
the federal
dership. We
ious threats
consequenti
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ons
for
as been
lution protecti
ls to the state
eglect these
to make a lasting
I thank you for
your time.
Next up,
Clark.
Thank you very
MS. SHIRLEY
much.
we have number three
s she on the line?
MR. JAGIELA:
Thank you, Patrick.
Sister Mary Elizabeth
Not there, no.
MS. SHIRLEY: Okay.
What about number four, Nathaniel
Goods on?
will start your
MR. GOODSON:
MS. SHIRLEY:
timer
Can you
Yes, we
hear me?
can hear you. I
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Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
apologize.
MR. GOODSON: Great, great.
I live in a parsonage and the
decided to mow the
hope you can -.
lawn showed up two minutes ago. I
MS. SHIRLEY:
MR. S000SON:
Well, we can hear you
_____________
Very good. My name is
on, and I am the pastor of the Prayer
f God in Christ in Upper Darby,
also serve as the Chairman of the
2’ Association, a grass roots,
ncorporated organization.
SCA was created to
idents in Upper
in Upper Derby f
in Philacelphia
summer was no: a
lived within wa
ng pool where my
regular basis.
rant served as
and beat the heat.
child, when the dog days of
which by the way in hindsight, I
as hot as they are now. But
ality of
ived and
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taying Co
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stay cool
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nily and I
ity swimmi
days on a
r fire hyd
the qu
have 1
than 2
when s
proble
distan
I swam
days,
way to
summer
don’t
engage and improve
Darby. :
or more
at a time
major
king
friends and
On other
refreshinga
would a
remember
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
when those
challenge
hydrants,
adelphia are
adelphia, and
adelphia. Co
ely populated
primarily in
a major
opening
which in
reas are
ty citizens
study that
Americans 1
t. In addi
Ph i 1 ad e 1 ph i a
fire
days would arrive, it was not
because it was accomplished by
and swimming pools.
It is much
Inquirer call
I grew u
lined st
nights
expe r
According
January (sic) 2
ia that
ss tree
Even the
o those I
Philadelph
are now le
premium.
compared t
Inquirer,
different now in what the
s Swelterdelphia. The
p in has changed. There
reets and shade is at a
appear to be warmer as
ienced in my childhood.
to yesterday’s Philadelphia
4th, some of the hotspots in
Phil
Phil
Phil
dens
live
North Philadelphia, South
the Cobbs Creek area
incidentally, these a
with poor and minori
r
West
who
ive
tion,
ow homes.
The NAACP launched a
revealed that 68 percent of African
within 30 miles of a coal fired plan
the Climate Justice Initiative suggested that
communities of color breathe in nearly 40 percent
more polluted air than whites and that African
American children are three times as likely to
an asthma attack. On a personal note, my siste
daughter and my granddaughter, and my sister’s
suffer
r, my
son
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1 all have asthma. I stopped counting at 20 the
2 members of our church who have the disease.
3 I give this history because I now live
4 in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania which is a first suburb
5 bordered by Cobbs Creek, which as mentioned earlier,
6 is West Philadelphia. Upper Darby is a bedroom
7 committee — I’m sorry, a bedroom community and
8 according to the 2017 census, there are 82,000 people
9 and 30,312 households residing in the Township. The
10 population is culturally — culturally diverse and
11 represents more than 100 ethnic cultures.
12 Since Upper Darby is so close in
13 proximity to Philadelphia, many of the problems that
14 affect Philadelphia find themselves at the doorsteps
15 of those who reside in Upper Derby. Public safety,
16 waste management, economic development and public
17 health issues are some of the issues that Township
18 government has to address on a daily basis. Upper
19 Derby, for example, has experienced much of the same
20 impact of COVID—19 that our neighbor has experienced.
21 And just as it is in Philadelphia, it has taken its
22 toll on the African American and Latino community —
23 Latino population. Added to this are the challenges
24 of an older citizenry, and they have the potential of
25 the difficulty ahead of us.
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1 Gone are many of the tree lined
2 streets that Upper Darby and the shade provided.
3 Thus ray — rising the risk of residents experiencing
4 heat related health problems. This is further
5 exacerbated by the fact that so many do not have air
6 conditioners and fans which present an additional
7 concern. Many residents in my community are afraid
B tO Keep their windows open, especially at nioht and
9 will often close their windows and turn off their
10 fans. Can you imagine how high the temperature
11 climbs in a house where the windows are closed with
12 no air conditioning? No air conditioning and the fan
13 is turned off?
14 The Bywood Community Association,
15 which I am the Chairman of, has recently partnered
16 with Tree Tenders, which is a program sponsored by
17 the Pennsylvania horticultural scciety designed to
IS plant trees in neighbors — in neighborhoods in Upper
19 Darhy.
20 MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Mr. Goodson.
21 Please make sure that your — your remarks are — are
22 emailed to us at [email protected], and we will make
23 sure that we read the rest of — of your testimony.
24 MR. GOODSON: All right. Thank you
25 much.
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1
2
4
5
I-
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
today,
Aithoug
change
unless
COVI 0—1
in C02
unique
Pennsyl
Two
coronavi
he pandem
likely to
sharply c
The
ch
5!
in
MS. SHI
have Eric Langennayr
RLEY: Thank you.
me
MR. LANGENMAYR:
Next up, we
Yes. Can you hear
MS. SKI
MR. LAN
My name
chemist.
I’m a
RLEY: Y
GE N K A YR:
‘s Eric I
I spent
iso a res
retired Ph.D.
industrial R&D
Pennsylvania *
es, I can hear you.
Okay, great.
angenmavr. :‘m a
over 30 years in
ident of Philadelphia,
the
ht
is
we
global crises threaten our world
rus pandemic and climate change.
ic seems more urgent, climate
have a far greater consequence
urtail greenhouse gas emissions
two crises are linked. The
as caused an unexpected decrease
is year, and this all presents a
ow the rate of climate change.
the position to contribute to the
9 pandemi
cmi ss ions
chance to
vania is
needed reduction of greenhouses
emissions
of existin
22
23
24
25
classes — gas
strong effective rule for regulation
VOC emissions,
with a
•g oil and gas well sites.
The proposed rule, targeted to reduce
which would also significantly reduce
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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methane emissions from existing sites, is a good
rule. That’s
good that the
The — the rul
equipment, to
for leaks eve
t
on, and it’s
realized.
all
spect
a step
rule is
e requir
reduce
ry three
Being
prod
1 y
as c
four
shou
more
sites
in the right directi
on its way o being
ed companies to inst
VOC emissions and in
months
that Pennsylvania is one of the
ucers of natural gas, then this
both greenhouse as
level ozone pollution.
es to this proposed good
made and would result
ective rule
leading
significant
s as well
there are
I believe
stronger,
First,
1
2
3
4
S
6
7
B
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
reduce
round
chang
Id be
eff
nation’s
rule can
condition
However,
rule that
in a much
Co n v e n t i on
gas, under
This means
71,000 con
be require
of these r
follow the
has recent
emit more
the proposed
t produce a s
rule
mall
exempts
amount of
per day.
al wells tha
15 barrels
that only a
venticnal we
ci to follow
ules — wells
rule. Now,
ly estimated
than 1.1 mil
of
bout 3
lls re
the ru
will
the E
that
lion t
oil equivalent
00 of the more than
porting production will
le. So over 99 percent
have no requirements to
nvironmental Defense Fund
oil and gas wells in PA
ons of methane yearly,
e conventional wells.
shown that these low
about 600,000 tons
Re s
from thes
earch has
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8903
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1
2
.3
D
V
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
allows less
previous in
significant
one inspecti
inspections.
leakage could
So we must be
methane leakage
all of the emission
thei
unco
cons
Much
gas
all
regard
change
proposals to weaken
controlli
requires
ng emis
And fin
directl
in PA
ma 11cr
ion.
waters
action
sons to
sions from new,
ally, please
y in the new ru
is comprised of
fraction of VOCs,
hod moment with
to slow climate
be a.arned. EPA’s
requirements for
S SitC5
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
producing wells can emit just as much, or even more,
VOCs and methane than higher producing wells.
Second, eliminate the provision than
ireauent equipment inspections if
spections dc not result — reveal
leaks. Equipment wears out with time, so
on may not be predictive of future
A site that previously had little
become a site with big leaks in time.
both prudent and vigilant in measuring
Third, include in this proposed rule
sources that DEP included in
r recent rule, regulati
nventional gas wells.
ider targeting methane
of the Marcellus Shale
which contains a much s
owing more methane emiss
We are at a
to taking effective
There are many rea
le.
dry
or eliminate
ng methane emissions from oil and ga
Pennsylvania to issue a strong rule.
30
now is the t
:: take us
methane ends
way. Now is
much better
protect our
greenhouse gas, as much as 80
carbon dioxide in the first 20
Recent studies show that
ennsylvania from oil and
unreported — underrepor
negate much of the redu
of using natural gas in
The proposed rule is a good start, but
inc to issue a much stronger rule which
much further along the path to reduce
sions. Pennsylvania needs to lead the
the time for Pennsylvania to issue a
rule, to do a piece of the work needed to
grandchildren and future generations.
So in summary, I strongly urge you to
recommended changes so that a strong,
is issued. Thank you for considering
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Mr.
Edward Ketyer.
____________
Yes, hi. Thank
_____________
Hi, Edward.
____________
Hi. My name
I live and work in
MR. K
MS. SHIRLEY:
MR. KETYER:
Methane is a strong
times stronger than
years after emission
methane emissions in P
wells have been hugely
industry, and this can
greenhouse gas benefit
of coa.
gas
ted by
ced
place
1
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
adopt
effect
my tes
the four
ive rule
timony.
Langenmayr. Next up we have
E T YE R:
Ketyer, K—E—T—Y—E—R.
you.
is Dr.
Peters
Ed
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
31
1 Township, Washington County, the most heavily fracked
2 county in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
3 I am a member of the American Academy
4 of Pediatrics Council on Environmental Health.
5 Wearing my pediatrician hat, I would like to applaud
6 Governor Wolf for proposing new rules to reduce
7 pollution generated by fracked gas development.
8 Decreasing air emissions of methane, VOCs and other
9 harmful chemicals in the air we all breathe will
10 bring relief to adults with chronic lung diseases and
11 heart disease, and to children who suffer from
12 asthma. It will lower the burden of disease of our
13 youngest generation of Pennsylvanians and reduce
14 their cancer risk from exposure to benzene and the
15 profound health damage associated with ground level
16 ozone and endocrine disrupting chemicals.
17 Parents living in Washington County
18 and other highly fracked areas will breathe a sigh of
19 relief, knowing that you are trying to protect the
20 health of their loved ones and not just the financial
21 fortunes of one industry. And parents around the
22 world will praise you for finally trying to put a lid
23 on the climate crisis by controlling fugitive methane
24 leaks before it’s too late.
25 I am also a medical consultant with
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1 southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project,
2 a nonprofit public health organization helping
3 residents living near shale gas operations understand
4 and manage the many dangers to their health. Putting
5 on my EHP hat, I would call the Governor’s proposal a
6 first step, but not nearly strong enough to protect
7 individuals and communities. I would urge all of you
8 to strengthen the proposed rule by first including
9 inspections and repairs of all oil and gas wells,
10 conventional and unconventional, and not just the
11 lower producing ones. You are aware that low
12 producing wells are actually a big part of the
13 million ton methane problem. And second, the
14 frequency of those inspections should be ramped up,
15 not tamped down since large, uncontrolled leaks are
16 random and can only be detected with frequent and
17 regular inspections by competent and unbiased
18 inspectors.
19 I am also a Board member of Physicians
20 for social Responsibility Pennsylvania. My PSR hat
21 can — tells me to say, nice try, but fracking is
22 inherently dirty and dangerous and new rules and
23 regulations can’t fix that fact. The overwhelming
24 consensus revealed in the sixth edition of the PSR’s
25 fracking science compendium is that there is no
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
evidence that fracking can operate without
threatening public health directly or without
ing climate
You already
ly potent greenhouse
atmosphere 86 times
dioxide over a 20 ye
imperil
depends
extreme
earth’s
carbon
methane
greenho
change.
shoulo
leaks a
that, a
an
the
leaks is
stability upon which public health
heard that methane is
gas, trapping heat in
more effectively :han
ar time frame. Stoocing
low hanging fruit for lowering
0 comoattina cl:nate
ty of climate change
sively control methane
My kids would appreciate
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
0
10
12
13
14
15
17
I—
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
5 e
phy
y 0
as
su
missions an
sical reali
u to aggres
possible.
re you —
use ga
The
compel
s much
ni I’m
tening
s and
pot
pla
just
Let me take
ycurs will too
these last few
my hats off and thank you
ror
comm
citi
a to
best
raci
days to thelis
ent
Zen
ugh S
laid
al in
public
owing me
w, Pennsy
ow. CCVI
dreams
bigotry
for all to spea
you kno lvania
right n D—19 na
ns and Persist
ice and remind
elusive some of those dreams can be.
to everyone that the climate crisis
k as a private
residents are in
s disrupted the
ent, systematic,
all of us how
And it is clear
isn’t going to
fix itself.
So what can a private citizen do to
34
Doctor. Next
Looks like
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
ensure a better outcome from these public health
crises? I can vote, yeah, that’s the easy part, but
1 don’t make policy. I don’t listen to the facts and
decide which road to take. That’s the hat that all
of you wear. That’s your job. Adopt and then
strengthen these rules to reduce the risk of
poisoning the landscape, sickening our children, and
accelerating the climate crisis. Please, do your
jobs and protect the health of the public that you
serve. Not the profits of companies that serve you.
In light of the grand jury report
released today by the Attorney General, I don’t think
that’s too much to ask. Children live in a world
shaped by our choices. Please choose wisely, and
quickly, and reimagine a future, their future that is
clean, healthy, safe and hopeful once again. Thank
you.
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you,
up we have — oh, some background noise.
Diana Harding.
Yes. Can you hear me?
Yes. We can hear you.
All right.
Well, thank you for making this
hearing virtual, thereby reducing the spread of
MS. HARDING:
MS. SHIRLEY:
MS. HARDING:
35
COVID—19 an
equally con
general hea
site of
Lycomin
establi
cc m par y
a long
inspect
in the
d I look forward to Pennsylvania being
scientious by reducing methane for the
lth of the state and the changing climate.
In my experience, having observed the
and drilling of natural gas in
ce the wells have been
is almost no surv
tly, any mishaps
sites need to be
P for the safety
for the monitor
Monitoring of low —
exploration
g County, on
shed, there
Cons equen
time. These
edby the DE
vicinity and
1
2
3
4
5
7
S
10
11
12
13
17
18
-3
20
21
22
23
24
25
no
eillance by the
go unnoticed for
regularly
of those livi
ing of methane.
low producing
y important as
if of the
draft rule for
sed. There
ion that permits
cy of
y have
as one
wells on a regular basis is especiall
they are responsible for more than ha
methane emitted. The loophole in the
the low producing wells should be do
should be no provision in any regulat
these operators to reduce the frequen
inspections as they do not necessaril
health of the people in Pennsylvania
priorities.
the
of their
COVID—l9 has shed light on the
importance of air quality. Pennsylvania has already
some of the worst air in the nation, and we should be
doing whatever possible to improve it. Our citizens
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1 should not have to suffer from pollution of methane
2 gas. It is up to the DEP to do whatever possible to
3 reduce it for the health of the people.
4 As the same gas is responsible for 25
5 percent of manmade global warming, we should be
6 considering how the climate change has affected the
7 state with hotter summers, the increase of damaging
8 storms and floods, and damage to the agricultural
9 sector
10 To look at this in a more positive
11 manner, there is room for Pennsylvania to take the
12 lead in the methane mitigation sector, creating the
13 technologies to find and fix emission leaks. We have
14 the engineering talent in the state’s universities
15 and the opportunity to provide entry level and high
16 skilled jobs for our deserving populations. Thank
17 you.
18 MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Diane. Next
19 up we have Rachel Frankford.
20 MS. FRANKFORD: Hi, can you hear me?
21 MS. SHIRLEY: Yeah, we can hear you.
22 MS. FRANKFORD: Okay, thanks. Afraid
23 I wouldn’t be able to unmute myself. I’ve never used
24 this before. All right.
25 Good evening, and thank you for your
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1 time today and for listening to my testimony. My
2 name is Rachel Frankford. I live at 2125 Saint
3 Albans Street in Philadelphia. I am here tonight as
4 a lifelong Pennsylvanian, a teacher and a mother.
5 It is vital and urgent that the
6 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
7 take the strongest action possible to limit methane
8 pollution from the oil and gas industry. I am
9 currently pregnant with my second child. Just last
10 week, major news outlets, including the New York
11 Times, reported on research showing that pregnant
12 women and their babies are at risk from
13 complications, including stillbirth, due to air
14 pollution and heat waves, both of which are being
15 worsened by climate change. The report also found
16 that women of color faced the greatest risk.
17 In addition, we have seen in the past
16 few months, the people exposed to worse air quality
19 are at much greater risk of dying of COVID—l9.
20 Methane pollution and the global warming it fuels are
21 also worsening public health crises that
22 disproportionately affect the most vulnerable.
23 Pennsylvania, unfortunately, has the distinction of
24 being the third largest greenhouse gas producing
25 state in the nation, and the Philadelphia and
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1 Pittsburgh metro areas have both received failing air
2 quality grades from the American Lung Association as
3 other people giving testimony have stated. This
4 burden also falls disproportionately on people of
5 color.
6 Here are some specific actions the
7 Department of Environmental Protection can take.
8 Right now, there is a loophole in the draft rule for
9 low producing wells. This may not sound like a
10 problem but these wells are responsible for more than
11 half of methane pollution in the state. This
12 loophole must be closed.
13 Second, current provisions allow
14 inspectors to reduce the frequency of inspections
15 when previous leaks have not been detected. This is
16 unsafe. Leaks can develop at any time. Frequent and
17 regular inspections are necessary to ensure our
18 safety.
19 A majority of Pennsylvanians support
20 strong climate action such as more aggressive methane
21 mitigation. We are already seeing the pernicious
22 effects of climate change, including hotter summers,
23 the spread of Lyme Disease, and more frequent and
24 severe storms. Stopping climate change is not like
25 pulling the emergency brake on a train. Once gases
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1
.5
A.3
0
0
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
:8
—
20
21
22
23
24
25
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
like methane are released into the atmosphere, they
are here to stay. We are running out of time.
I worry constantly about my students
and my son. What will their future lock like on a
raoidly warming climate when there seems to be so
little political will to do anything about it and put
people before polluters? Please do right by
Pennsyivanans, tnose who are nere now, and those who
will have no choice but to live in the future we
create by our actions today. Thank you for your
time.
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you
congratulations on the — on number two.
have number nine, Arvind Ravikumar? So
have Arvind with us?
Rachel, and
Next up we
rry. Do we
MR. RAVIKUMAR:
MS. SHIRLEY:
MR. RAV:KUMAR:
Yes. Can you
can hear you.
_______________
Thank you. My
Arvind Ravikumar, and I’m calling in from 2027
Street, Philadelphia.
Thank you for the opportunity
to you today. : am an assistant crofessor of
er.gir.eering at Harrisburg University and a
representative of :ni:iative for Sustainable
who work on addressing methane emissions and
hear me?
name is
Wa 1 nut
to speak
energy
Energy
air
40
1 quality issues associated with the oil and gas
2 industry.
3 I want to commend the Department of
4 Environment Protection on their work to reduce
5 methane and other emissions from the oil and natural
6 gas activities. These steps are critical to ensure
7 that the available resources are sustainable and
8 protecting health and wellbeing of all
9 Pennsylvanians. However, the proposed rule is
10 insufficient to address air quality issues from oil
11 and gas activities. Here, I want to address four
12 specific ways in which the proposed rule can and must
13 be strengthened. These recommendations are based on
14 the latest scientific evidence collected by
15 scientists in my group as well as several other
16 commenters around the country.
17 First, low producing wells should not
18 be exempt from leak detection regulations. The
19 research has shown significant emissions from these
20 low producing wells. Based on our — from our recent
21 work, we find that low producing wells emit ten times
22 more methane than high producing wells relative to
23 total natural gas production. For example, low
24 producing conventional well sites in the Marcellus
25 Shale region showed a leakage rate of 11 percent
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
41
1 while unconventional well sites only emitted about .1
2 percent.
3 For the large number of low producing
4 conventional wells, over 71,000 in Pennsylvania, that
5 means that the total emissions from these wells are
6 higher than the total emissions from the 8,000 plus
7 high producing unconventional wells.
9 Despite contributing to total natural
9 gas production in the state, emissions from low
10 producing wells were responsible for over half of all
11 methane emissions. Therefore, exemption for well
12 sites with gas to oil ratio less than 300 standard
13 cubic feet per hour is not supported by the facts and
14 scientific evidence.
15 second, the reduction regarding
16 inspection frequency from quarterly to semi—annually
17 should not be based on the fraction of leaking
18 components as the proposed rule states. several
19 recent studies, including those conducted in
20 Pennsylvania, have shown that a majority of emissions
21 come from a very small number of leaking components.
22 These are called super emitters. For example, only
23 about one percent of total components were found
24 emitting when using EPA’s method approach. Annually,
25 about 0.2 percent were emitting using a typically
Sargent’s Court Reporting service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
42
1 used optical gas emitting approach.
2 Even sites with high amount of
3 emissions will likely have less than two percent of
4 components leaking at any point. What this means is
5 that every site will always be surveyed semiannually,
6 according to the proposed rule instead of quarterly.
7 Instead, any reduction in inspection frequency should
8 be based on total emissions instead of fraction of
9 leaking components.
10 Third, episodic events like lifting
11 and loading, compressive load out, and methane slips
12 are some of the largest sources of methane and VOC
13 emission. Any effort to reduce emissions should also
14 report control of resources using best available
15 management practices. This is especially critical
16 for compressive stations that are, in fact, located
17 near homes and community spaces like schools and
18 parks.
19 Fourth and finally, I encourage the
20 DEE to consider allowing the use of new technologies
21 for indoor applications after vigorous evaluation.
22 Many major scientific studies, including those
23 conducted in our group, have demonstrated the
24 potential for new technology to rapidly detect a leak
25 in a variety of operating conditions. In addition,
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
we can also measure rates, allowing
definitely improve emissions in the
These alternatives
tothe DEP
state.
are often mounted
like trucks, drones, and planes and have
to cover a large area in a short time
significantly reduces the cost of
Citations to peer reviewed scientific
11 of these recommendations will be made
my written testimony, and I’d be happy
on platforms
the potential
and therefore,
regulations.
studies for a
available in
to discuss any
have based on
Environmental
speak on this
up -
Schongar.
further questions
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
this
Quali
impor
MS.
testimony.
ty Board f
tant issue
SHIRLEY:
that the Board
I thank the
or this opportunity
Thank you.
Thank you, Arvind.
We have Elizabethwell, it’s frozen here.
may
to
Next
I’ll
start your time
MS. SCHONGAR:
MS. SHIRLEY:
r, Elizabeth.
MS. SCHONGAR:
Yes, I’m here.
Good, all right.
S chong
Pittsb
ar.
urgh,
I’m living at 138
Pennsylvania.
Hello
Parker
I’m Elizabeth
Street in
methane and
extended to
I stron
rule.
wells,
VOC
all
gly support the proposed
I would like to see it
including all low producing
44
1 wells, and for regularly scheduled inspections
2 regardless of the results of prior inspections. This
3 rule is essential for our health, our farmland, and
4 most important to work towards flatting the trend of
5 global warming.
6 Regarding health, I know I suffer
7 every time there’s poor air quality in my
8 neighborhood with a scratchy throat and sinus issues.
9 Poor air quality is indicated in increased cancer
10 rates, increased asthma and increased cardiovascular
11 disease. This rule will reduce methane emissions
12 from wells and will reduce emission of other organic
13 volatiles, which contribute significantly to ill
14 health.
15 Regarding farmland, Western
16 Pennsylvania’s fracking fields sit in some of the
17 country’s best farmland. These areas are needed to
18 be preserved as healthy places to raise a family, to
19 raise livestock, and grow food. Reduced methane
20 leakage along with a reduction of other volatile
21 organics will help preserve this essential farmland
22 resource and support agricultural businesses.
23 Finally, and most importantly,
24 lowering methane emissions is essential to reducing
25 global warming. This must be a key focus when
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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S
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Li
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transaction.
such as this,
participants a
while ensuring
transaction.
having regular
fairness while
appropriate
it extende
wells and
regardless
you.
in
Aporopriate g
will create a
re free to pa
that all cos
And including
inspections
improving th
In summary,
— the proposed
5, inc
schedu
t of p
S H : R L £ Y:
MS. WEISS:
ces
each
and
the
to see
ducing
Thank
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
deciding how to regulate
contribute siqnificantly
conomtst
associated with external
nor seller has factored
45
buyer
all industries that
to global warning.
s talk about the risks
costs, but neither the
the cost of the
overnment regulations,
fair market where
rticipate and set pri
ts are considered in
all producing wells
increases the market
e result.
I strongly support
rule and would like
luding all low pro
led inspections
nor inspections.
- Thank you, Elizabeth.
Do we have Elissa on the
Elissa — Elissa Weiss
Sorry about that.
That’s okay
d to all well
to regularly
of the resul
MS. SK:RLEY:
Next we have Elissa Weiss.
line?
MS. WEISS:
(changes pronunciation)
: s
46
1 MS. SHIRLEY: That’s my — that’s my
2 Southcentral Pennsylvania coming out right there.
3 All right, I’ll start your timer.
4 MS. WEISS: My name is Elissa Weiss.
5 I live in Indiana Township, and I am an internal
6 medicine physician. We’re here to address the
7 control of methane and VOC emissions from oil and gas
8 operations. To that end, we must recall Article 1
9 Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution that
10 states that people have a right to clean air. And I
11 was recently reminded of the — of the oath of office
12 that all officials of the state take to support, obey
13 and defend the constitution of this Commonwealth and
14 discharge the duties of my office with fidelity.
15 It seems to be clear in this context
16 that it is essential that the DEP finalizes the most
17 protective methane and VOC rule that cuts air
18 pollution from existing oil and gas operations in
19 order to safeguard the health of our citizens and
20 minimize our contribution to climate change.
21 Some recent headlines have grabbed my
22 attention. Hottest Arctic temperature record with a
23 hundred degree reading in Siberia above the Arctic
24 Circle. Oil spill in Siberia, are we prepared for
25 permafrost thaw? Air pollution increasing the risk
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
47
9 deaths according
cancer stalks South
f of U.S. breathing
We have heard
potent greenhouse gas
cantly to climate cha
e organic compounds,
through every stage
on, compression, pr
and storage.
The climate char.ce e
health are numerous, widely studied
and broadly incThde cardiovascular,
cerebrovascular, kidney, infectious,
nutritional, reproductive and psychol
decompensations, increased hospitaliz
death. VOCs and air containments rel
gas extraction contribute to a simila
adverse health effects, which include
ffeccs on human
and documented,
respiratory,
allergic,
ogical
ations and
ated to oil and
r breadth of
hematologic and
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
of COVID-l
childhood
nearly hal
to new studies,
western Pennsylvania,
unhealt
several
methane
nge. We
VOCs, acc
of the oi
ocessing,
hy air.
times how the
contributes
also know that
ompany the
1 and gas
transport,
And that VOCs are directly
ng with neat,
ozone and smog
highly
S ini fi
volacil
methane
extracti
handlidg
harmful
sunligh
such as
cancer
metnane
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0
in—LI
12
13
14
ID
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
to human health o
t and particulates
r by
to
combini
generate
Additionally, radioactive subs tances
radon, the majority — major cause of lung
in non—smokers, may accompany the extracted
48
1 non—hematologic cancers, endocrine disruption,
2 developmental disorders, birth defects, high risk
3 pregnancies, preterm birth, and low birth weight, and
4 neurologically disorders.
5 These pollutants can travel and affect
6 populations hundreds of miles down land. Infants,
7 and children, the elderly, the poor, minority
8 communities, pregnant women and fetuses, industry and
9 outdoor workers, and first responders are especially
10 vulnerable. Choose from any of the litany of the
11 aforementioned health effects, and patients, nurses,
12 physicians, healthcare providers, and family members
13 can attest to the physical and emotional pain of
14 individuals who suffer with them, suffering which is
15 often coupled with financial strain and insolvency.
16 These avoidable tragedies can be heartbreaking.
17 Because our families need the most
18 comprehensive protections from these harms, we urge
19 DEE to make the following improvements to the
20 protective methane and VOC rule. First, include
21 inspections and repairs of the low producing oil and
22 natural gas wells, which are responsible for more
23 than half of methane pollution from the oil and gas
24 industry in Pennsylvania.
25 Second, eliminate the draft rule
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
49
1 portion that allows oil and gas operators to reduce
2 inspection frequency if previous inspections do not
3 reveal significant methane leaks. Research shows
4 that large uncontrolled leaks are random and
5 unpredictable and only frequent regular inspections
6 ensure their detection at any well.
7 The — the Environmental Defense Fund
8 2020 analysis, based on data obtained significantly
9 from ground level measurements, concludes — concludes
10 that oil and gas related methane emissions in
11 Pennsylvania are more than 16 times higher than
12 industry reported data which was derived using
13 outdated methodology. This marked underestimation of
14 emissions mirrors findings from studies surveying
15 emissions in Houston, Texas in 2018, as well as more
16 than 8,000 well pads spanning all shale gas basins in
17 2014. The findings indicate that in addition to
18 predictable emissions, which are estimated to
19 generate large health damage costs, unpredictable
20 emissions are mostly random and cause total emissions
21 to greatly exceed estimates.
22 Strengthening the protective rules to
23 cut methane, VOC and indeed all air pollution from
24 existing oil and gas operations, including
25 particularly the frequent regular inspection and
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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will
Fetting
Pittsbu
I thank
to than
methane
protect
methane
dealing
gas md
what is
m Michele
e Road in
tizen, and
I’d like
educe
the most
d gas
we are
oil and
to stop
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
repairs as indicated on low producing and all, both
conventional and unconventional, natural gas — oil
and natural gas wells is an imperative described in
the Pennsylvania Constitution and a responsibility
DEP bears towards every Pennsylvania citizen, family
and community. Thank you for listening, and thank
you for your devotion to this critical issue.
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Ms. Weiss.
Next up we have Michele Fetting. Do we have Michele
on the line?
MS. FETTING: Yes, I’m here.
MS. SHIRLEY: Hi, Michele. All right,
I start your timer.
MS. FETTING: Thank you. I’
and I live at 113 West Chapel Ridg
rgh. I’m testifying as a private ci
you for the opportunity to speak.
k Governor Wolf for his actions to r
emissions.
It is critical that we have
ive rules in place to control oil an
and VOC. All across Pennsylvania,
with the devastating effects of the
ustry, and many of us feel powerless
happening in our communities.
51
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C
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Genera jos
a two—year
industry at
limiting me
operations
How can we
inspection
between our
protect our
pure water
to take those
h Shapiro
invest i g at
the — of
thane and
when it se
ensure the
of all wel
DEP, the
constitutional
in the industry
rights away from
How can we even
chemical facil
lived that wil
y in the state?
of new wells
ure feed stock
s of plastic p
methane and a
et information
cocktails tha
C
flawed?
door
eed.
And
oxic
ted
ick.
DEP, what
nclude
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
I was saddened to hear Attorney
today presenting
ion in:
DEP. H
VOC lea
ems the
adequa
is when
entity
o the
ow can
cs from
entire
te and f
there’ 5
that is
the findinos of
oil and gas
we focus on
oil and ga
system is
reauent
a revolving
supposed to
o clean air and
working overtime
righ
that
tt
is
us?
begin
ities
1 emit
And
to prepare
being built
more VOCs
for
not
than
ive petro
where I
r facilit
thousands
the press
of pound
lot more
e can’t g
chemical
land and
worse, it will
the mass
far from
any othe
require
provide
millions
That’s a
worse, w
fracking
into our
is your
be fracked to
they can make
ts we don’t n
more VOCs.
op secret t
being blas
to
so
elle
lot
on t
- are
king people s
Wolf and the
a? Does it i
water and ma
I ask Governor
vision for Pennsylvani
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±1
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bold and proa
actions attra
economy in a
through an ai
over Southwes
the result of
leaking. :t
oil ar.d gas c
must consider
air pollution
single well.
will your
grow our
the
DEP
w it h
reLt
patcn
ly
fall
em at
when
ity
the
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
ctive climate action? How
ct people to our state and
sustainable way?
In 2014, a Penn State study detected
r monitor on an airplane a methane plume
tern Pennsylvania. This plume is not
a single well or a site that is
is from the cumulative effect of all
perations. And — highlighted today,
the cumulative inDact of all of this
and not just what is leaking from a
When a gas well went up in my
community in Indiana Township, it was permitted
almost no knowledge of it in the community. We
bowled over by — by the industry who put a well
just feet from. a daycare cer.ter, and uncomfortab
close to elementary and middle schools w:ch over
1,300 students and staff. Those emissions will
right on top of these young students, putting th
risk for multiple effects. How shocked we were
the very same company that came into our commun
was charged with multiple — multiple crimes by
Attorney General this past week.
I am a four—time cancer survivor. I’m
53
1 concerned that even though I live in a, quote,
2 livable place, my county is in the top two percent of
3 all counties in the country for cancer risk from
4 toxic air pollution. I’m concerned that there are
5 alarmingly high rates of cancer in my region,
6 including the rare pediatric bone cancer, Ewing’s
7 sarcoma. Many of these cancers are in Washington
8 County which also just happens to be the most heavily
9 fracked county in Pennsylvania.
10 I’m concerned that fracking waste is
11 radioactive and is not being adequately tested,
12 monitored, or tracked throughout the disposal
13 process. The DEE must regulate fracking waste at
14 every phase of operation and label it as what it is,
15 radioactive waste. Companies are desperate to get
16 rid of this waste, and they want to inject it
17 underground or spread it on our roads or dump it in
18 our landfills where it leaks into our water system.
19 We are currently bracing ourselves for
20 an injection well in Plum Borough which is close to
21 the Allegheny River and just upstream from the City
22 of Pittsburgh’s drinking water supply. This area is
23 also heavily undermined with old coal mines.
24 The DEP must stop putting the
25 interests of the gas industry over the health and
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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farm i
well sb
Gorge,
Grand
I’m a resident
seven mi
les east
er known
in
is
lo
Tioga County.
southwest of
the Pine Creek
the Pennsylvania
1 safety of our own citizens.
p055
and
from
Than
ible oi
we need
Govern
k you s
We need the strongest
1 and
bold
or Wol
o much
Next up we
line? All
have Deb
right.
gas methane rule in Pennsylvania,
and progress — and proactive actions
f, from the DEE and from the EQB.
for the opportunity to speak.
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Michele.
ra Topf. Do we have Debra on the
Debra, I will start your timer.
MS. TOPF: Thank you. Good evening.
Debra Topf, that’s T—O—P—F. I w
he Environmental Quality Board an
of Environmental Protection for
My n
to t
Depa
ame is
hank t
rtment
opportunity to testify today
ould like
d the
the
s located about
oro and seven mi
or what is bett
Canyon
of
les
of
as
Our
adult
dairy
I’ve lived
life, and my husband
farmer. While we no
continue to grow hay
Tioga County my entire
a second generation
nger milk cows, we
23
24
25
and
neighbors.
and peaceful
also blessed
rent farmland
We
na
to
to our
cherish the
ture of rura
have an ama
fresh air, the
1 Pennsylvania
zing, natural —
landscape
We’ re
to have
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-Q
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many farmers
farmers. Du
members bene
they were ii
when jobs were
while we got a
infrastructure
to particiate
through
current
being sold
very hard to
well drilled
never materia
in that boom.
Our well was
was welcome ne
come by in o
on our prose
lized that would
due to
well i
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
amazing, natural wonders like Pine Creek and Trout
Run.
Our area is also rich in natural gas
deposits. About a decade ago, innovations in
drilling and fracking led to a massive ramp up in
development in our area. We weren’t — we were
cautious supcrts of the boom. Our area has
struggled econcmically and it wasn’t feasible for
like our — like us to still make it as
r friends, our neighbors, and our family
fited from the boom. They were making —
nally again making a living at a time
And
Oil, and that
- the
pollu
regul
ur area.
rty, the
allow us
eventually sold to Shell
ws given that the company
nd commitment to reducing
upport of methane
part to reduce climate
the industry is going
corn panv ‘5
non, inclu
ations, and
rep
din
do
utation a
g their s
ing their
However,change emissions.
another major transformation
economic environment and our
today’ s
s again
56
1 As a landowner and as royalty owners,
2 we do not believe that our health and economic future
3 should be at the whim of whatever company has its own
4 well on our property when production finally starts.
5 I want to know that all companies are held to the
6 same high standard and that air pollution is reduced
7 as much as possible. I support Governor Wolf’s rule
8 to cut methane pollution from wells like mine in
9 Tioga County. I also believe that this should
10 include conventional oil and gas wells.
11 However, in Pennsylvania, it is a
12 common story that you could hear people who couldn’t
13 drink their water in the nearby creek because there
14 was so much methane in the water. And that could
15 have been contaminated — that could have been
16 contaminated by nearby wells.
17 We just can’t afford to ignore the
18 72,000 conventional wells across the state that are
19 responsible for at least half of the methane
20 pollution in the state. A strong final rule will
21 help ensure the air our family breathes and makes
22 claim that our grandchildren have a healthy future
23 and secure climate. They’ll ultimate ensure that the
24 royalty owners get a fair return on their investment
25 by reducing - reducing methane emissions and bringing
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
57
reduction
quality is
of Shell’s
Thank
Rachel
the 11
Yes -
Hi, Rachel.
Hi,
add res
dence I
name is
.un
s a
County.
of a young
agricultural
ndus try
of this
nmen:.
s to red
ites in
reduce
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
more of the resources we own to market.
much.
MS. SHIRLEY:
Thank you so
Next up, we have number 14,
Meyer. Do we have Rachel on
MS. MEYER:
MS . S H I RLEY
Okay.you, Debra.
Kathleen Sica
ne?
You can
begin.
Rachel
Road.
MS. MEYER:
M eye r.
I live
My street
in Indepen
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
1f’—‘S
12
13
‘4
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
thank you. My
s is 374 Longs
ownshio which i
chill
area
deve
indu
happ
VOC
stat
d and a
surrou
lopment
stry on
y to he
emzsso
e. It
rural area west of Pittsburgh in Beaver
As a homeowner, a mother
teacher living in an
and natural gas i
y aware of the effects
health and our enviro
he proposed regulation
oil ar.d r.atural gas s
native that we act to
science
nded by o
I sta
public
ar of t
ns from
is i
pollution
I was
uce
our
airmp
and slow climate change.
Controlling VOCs will lead to a
in ground level ozone. Our poor air
only going to get worse with the opening
cracker plant. I can see the lights from
58
1 the construction of the plant above the horizon when
I look toward our neighbor’s farm. i myself have
3 asthma. :4anv people across our state have
4 respiratory and cardiovascular diseases which are, if
5 not caused by, are exacerbated by our pollution.
6 I especially wan: clean air for my
7 daughter and all the other children. As a teacher,
8 there have been times where my students could not go
9 out to recess due to the condition of our air. How
10 is it that we still have such a problem with our air
11 quality? It is shameful. Article 1 Section 27 of
12 the Pennsylvania Constitution states that people have
13 a right to clean air. We know this is a part of our
14 state constitution. If industry infringes on this
15 right, they must face consequences.
16 The control measures in the proposed
17 rulemaking will also reduce methane emissicns.
18 Pennsylvania is the second largest producer of
19 natural gas in the United States, and the third
20 largest greenhouse gas polluting state. As
21 Pennsylvanians, if we want to reap the benefits of
22 natural gas, we must take responsibility for its
23 methane. t’:ethane is proven to contribute at a higher
24 rate than carbon dioxide in climate change.
25 I suffer from Lyme disease and
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1
2
3
4
S
6
7
8
9
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12
13
19
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21
22
23
24
25
world will
species.
have to remove ticks.
yard and woods without
walk to my mailbox, I
As a child in Weste
out this
I wish
enj oyment
f this
to the already
res due to climate
ratures continue to
h as methane, infec
a problem. We are a
t on agricul
As we all
and the tip
We cannot go out
checking for ticks.
removed nine from my
rn Pennsylvania, I
I could roam freely
my daughter could have
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
regularly
into our
After one
pant legs
never had
without a
this care
to worry ab
tick check.
free outdoor
Part o
attributable
tempera t u
the tempe
gases suc
increase
increasir.
cnange
rise due
ted ticks
lso alrea
ture due
know, t
of the
in
ga
‘-C
to
Wi
dy
to
his
melt
14
15
16
17
18
more of
a negat
w eat her
in the
when it
results
ticks may be
verage
tainly, if
greenhouse
11 become
experiencing
changing
is the canary
ing iceberg
ive effec
patterns
coal mine
comes to
of the r
climate
ising ave
chan
rage
ge. The
tempera
impend
ture on
be catastrophic for humans and
ing
our
many other
Again, I want to think of our youth.
They are calling for the change needed to give them
the future they deserve. Their collective voice is
pleading for drastic change which they know must
happen now. Let’s not be lulled into complacency by
60
1 the false statements of those who do not recognize
2 the truth of science. Let us also not confine our
3 thinking to believe that unsustainable and harmful
4 industries are the best way to create jobs in our
5 state. The oil and gas industry has already taken
6 advantage of good people with lies about the
7 harmlessness of their impacts on air and water.
8 Pennsylvanians want and need a healthy
9 ecosystem. This proposed rulemaking is a step in the
10 right direction in protecting us all. This is an
11 opportunity we cannot miss. Close the loopholes. Do
12 not let low producing wells go unchecked. Eliminate
13 the provisions that allow operators to reduce the
14 frequency of inspections if previous inspections do
15 not reveal significant methane leaks.
16 It is the interest of both — it is in
17 the interest of public health and the economy to
18 utilize the best technology for the lowest emission
19 limitations. In this proposal, DEP defines RACTs as
20 the lowest emission limitation that a particular
21 source is capable of meeting by the application of
22 control technology that is reasonably available
23 considering the technological and economic
24 feasibility. If it is not economically feasible,
25 then perhaps this is not the correct energy source or
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
the right
operators
Instead,
product to benefit Pennsylvania and the
should not be attempting this work.
cleaner industries with sustainable jobs
Damage to public health and the
61
can
t.
and
ure
this
replace them.
environment does not come witho
Put into effect
natural air pollution regulatio
people of Pennsylvania. Ensure
inspections are done and correc
past enforcement, and don’t be
rule has been
first step.
ut an economic cos
the strongest oil
ns you can for the
that accurate
tly reported. Ens
satisfied. After
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keeping
enacted, know that this is just the
Contin
the people
te to
ity to
that
this
cont ribu
opportun
ue on with the critical work of
safe and stopping the emissions
climate change. Thank you for
speak.
SHIRLEY:MS. Thank you, Rachel. Next
up, we have Dr. Robert Little. Are you on the line,
Dr. Little? Darek, were you able to find Dr. Little?
MR. JAGIELA: Yes. He’s unmuted right
now, but I’m not hearing anything.
MS. SHIRLEY:
difficulties
that you are
and then try
Maybe we’re
hearing you, D
unmuted so we
to get your —
All right
having some
r. Little.
will move
your — you
technical
Darek said
on to the next,
r cell working,
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
and we’ll circle back. Do
Saint Halaire? Do we have
MR. HALAIRE
me?
MS. SHIRLEY:
MR. HALAIRE:
MS. SH:RLEY
MR. HALAIRE:
MS. SH:RLEY:
MS. SM:RLEY:
Yeah, we can hear you.
There we go, great.
Okay -
All right.
So this is — this is — I
Mr. Halaire?
start your timer.
MR. HALAIRE: All right, great.
Well, good evening, everyone. My name
is Thomas Halaire, and I’m from Camo Mill,
Pennsylvania - I thank you for this opportunity to
offer testimony. I’m sneaking tocay on behalf of the
Center for Vetha.e Emissions Solutions. The Center
is a national coalition that represents companies in
the methane mitigation industry in the United States.
The methane mitigation industry is a
American industry. 130 companies
in the U.S., and there are
methane mitigation facilities
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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we have number 16, Thomas
Can you — can you hear
just want to verify
MR.
this is
HALAIRE:
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Yes.
Okay, great. : will
robust and growing
have headquarters
approximately 570
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located across
Penns
plant
provider
significant
provides th
to communit
consequence
methane poi
is a highly
potent than
after its r
million ton
atmosphere
facilit
lit ies,
In addition
these
cost.
ude
cen
offi
Wolf
the country, including dozens here in
63
1
manufacturing
ters, service
ces
and the
Depar
leade
will
gas s
admin
conpr
tme n t
rship
regula
—
istrat
ehensi
ylvania. These ies md
s, assembly fac service
offices and administrative
We commend Governor
of Environmental Pro
in croosing common
cc methane emissions
hroughout the state.
ion to strengthen th
ye controls for low
The oil and gas
part of Pennsylvani
ousands of good jobs
ies across the state.
of this success is an
_ution, whicn as you na
potent greenhou
carbon dioxide
elease into the
s of methane is
every year.
tection for its
sense standards that
from existing oil and
However, we urge the
e proposal with some
producing wells.
industry is a
a’s economy which
and tremendous value
Unfortunately, tne
increased level of
ye all heard today,
Se gas, over SC times more
in the first 20 years
atmosphere. More than 1.1
released into the
costs associated with
a tremendous economic
to the real environmental
emissions, there is also
Methane is also the
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1 primary component of natural gas. Pennsylvania oil
2 and gas operations lease upwards of $86 million of
3 natural gas due to methane emission from
4 inefficiencies at oil and gas well sites including
5 faulty equipment and venting practices.
6 If those leaks and venting were
7 stopped, it would mean more product and more revenue
8 for companies. Moreover, cutting methane waste can
9 also help ensure a fair return for royalty owners.
10 Fortunately, this is a problem with a
11 clear solution. Responding to this market is an
12 environmental challenge. Companies have developed a
13 range of effective, innovative and low cost services
14 and technologies that reduce wasteful methane
15 emission. But you don’t have to take my word for it.
16 In their March 2020 report entitled Global Methane
17 Emissions from Oil and Gas, the International Energy
18 Agency found that while natural gas prices today are
19 relatively low, we estimate that around one third of
20 our latest estimate of methane emissions from oil and
21 gas operations could still be avoided at no net cost.
22 These results reflect our experiences
23 in other states, like Colorado, that have imposed
24 proposals similar to the one we are discussing today.
25 As a result, policymakers do not need to make
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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difficult choices between protecting public health
and supporting the economy. it is our view that for
the most part, the rule under consideration today
strengthens this important balance. We do feel that
the rule can be strengthened in two ways.
One, limiting the exemption for low
producing wells. These wells are responsible for
more than half of the methane pollution from oil and
gas sources in Pennsylvania, and any serious policy
must addre
pro ‘ is ion
frequency
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tha
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nd two,
ors to
eliminating the
reduce the
ks occ
r and
s not
ur r
tear
mean
egula
of e
the
members,
lea
we a
doe
tha
Env
The
these facts. A
t allows operat
inspections.
In the experience of our
rly, often due to minor error
quipment. A successful inspe
next will yield the same resu
I’d like to close my remarks by
rnor Wolf and the Department of
Protection for pursing this policy
itigation industry in Pennsylvania
ions that will help add
also supporting our oil
the opportunity to be a
t as this rule moves
nking Gove
ironmental
methane m
5 or
ction
lts
again
prepared
this ser
gas part
resource
forward.
to provide solut
ious issue while
ners. We welcome
to the Departmen
Thank you.
is
ress
and
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talking and I
that will be
is not the fi
Wassermann.
Bradley. : ju
appreciate the
the Pennsylvan
Protections p
from existing
regularity of
facilities in
All
Do we
‘.y p
MS. SHIRLEY
MS. SHIRLEY:
MS. BRADLEY:
MS. SHIRLEY:
imer and feel
MS. BRADLEY:
Okay.
number 8
Yes
VOCs
ining
same
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you. Sorry, I was
forgot to unmute myself. Hopefully
the last time, but it certainly is not
rst
right. Next up, we have Garret
have Garret on the line?
JAGIELA: We do not.
W ha
V
t about
BRADLEY
Marya Bradley?
I am here.
Bradley, I’m going
to begin your
Okay.
Ms
freeto start your t
testlnony.
you.
is Marya
say that I
ughts about
______________
Okay, thank
Hi, good evenir.g. My name
st want Co — I just want to
ouportunity to voice my rho
Ia Department of Environmental
roposed rule limiting methane and
oil and gas facilities and determ
inspection and oversight of these
the state.
I also appreciate the Department’s
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Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
efforts to address the urgent
costs of these
fossil fuel in
the other livi
of the planet
to the future, to
the present state
that the need for
participate in de
issue be affirmed
be, as it is now
right that is in
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matter of the dire
facilities and all aspects of the
dustry on human life, the life of all
ng species, and the future of the life
First, let me say that it is critical
the future of the planet, and to
of our world and our democracy,
and right of citizens to
cisions like the current one at
and firmly established rather than
under the current presidency, a
danger of abridgement or revocation.
I grew up not far outside of
Chester in Delaware County, and I
ild finding salamanders in the garden
the peepers and frogs in the small
hrough the woods behind the garden.
salamanders at least 20 years back,
years back stopped hearing frogs or
‘ye also watched whole species of
fail because of blights, foreign
and terrible and unpredictable
drought and excessive rainfall.
of smog growing over the
Philade
remembe
and lis
creek t
I stopp
and at
seeing
trees s
insect
extreme
lphia and
r as a ch
tening to
hat ran t
ed seeing
least 10
frogs. I
icken and
invasions
s of heat
I’ve witnessed the clouds
68
1 horizon and read about the rising costs of
2 respiratory diseases and cancers in the areas around
3 where I live.
4 It was in my garden that I was
S infected — infected by a Lyme—carrying, a Lyme
6 disease carrying tick. And that has now become a
7 chronic condition in my life. And I’ve understood,
8 I’ve come to understand, to research, that this
9 spread of this particular disease is intimately and
10 intricately related to the ways that fossil fuel is
11 polluting infrastructure and byproducts. In fact,
12 effects on the loss of habitat, global warning —
13 warming, and the loss of our environment’s resiliency
14 and the presence of certain species that now are
15 struggling simply to survive.
16 I live and sleep in grief about the
17 humanly caused destruction and desecration of all the
16 beautiful life of this planet, and I’m astounded
19 actually that we must struggle to set reasonable
20 limits on an industry’s devastation of our planet and
21 our lives and our future. It is painful that we
22 cannot move more directly and swiftly to put a halt
23 to the million ills caused by this industry, as we
24 must, and we must do that for our present and for the
25 future of the web of life in which we live.
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the counting
sources, and
oversight or
fossil fuel
comments
Next
1tt
MS. SHIRLEY:
for rejoining. :
can begin.
MR. LITTLE:
my computer mic
Well, I’m a
And before
the people
ially encou
s into your
you,
Dr.
Do
Apparently my
did not
family
I go f
that h
rage Mi
local
my
Ms. Bradley.
Robert
we have Dr.
to
so
el
t
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Please do not allow any exception to
of methane and VOC leaks for all the
please do not diminish any part of the
inspection of these and any future
facilities. Thank you for considering
Good night.
MS. SHIRLEY:
______________
Thank
we’re going to circle back to
le. I hear he is on the phone.
le unmuted?
MR. LITTLE:
now. Can you hear me?
Thank
timer,
you
and
Yes, :‘n on the phone
Yes, we can hear you
‘m going to start your
V
app a r e n t V
Ha rr
cong
far,
get
isbur•g
ratula
and I
your c
p2:
te all
espec
omment
w o r k
doctor in
urther, I want
ave testified
chele and Rach
papers and all
papers you can because
1972
they’ re
to
he
very outstanding.
As a practicing family doctor since
— that’s a long time ago — I’ve witnessed many
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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implemen
has been
TPYs in methane emissions
approximately 75,000 TPYs of
In 2018, the
Fund, a team of scientists,
gas industry emits 13 milli
into the atmosphere each ye
billion worth from over 400
facilities. As already sta
to be inspected frequently
regular intervals. In fact,
are probably 60 percent highe
by the EPA.
reductions, and
on
much
‘5
tioned.
1:
ready
4CC
ozone.
Environmental De:ense
showed that the ol ano
on metric tans of n.echane
ar and they lose £2
leak—prone wells and
ted, these facilities have
because they don’t leak in
the leaks — the leaks
r than those estimated
cases of chronic lung disease and asthma, plus many
cases ar
studies
ozone co
diseases
VOCs and
w i t h d r a w
too low.
very goo
e cardiovascular disease. There are many
that show that higher levels of VOCs and
ntribute to increased incidence of these
So I support the lowest feasible limits
ozone, and I certainly do not want to
from the 2016 EPA standard which were
And I’m glad we have a new proposal
d, except for the problems already men
The proposed control measures,
ted, would also control methane, as al
said, and may reduce approximately 4,
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1 third leading emitter of greenhouse gases, and these
2 gases, combined with sunlight, do cause ozone. And
3 ozone levels are directly related to VOC emissions,
4 therefore.
5 A study by the Burgess Department,
6 visits among children age zero to four in Atlanta
7 found that at least 30 parts per billion increase in
8 the treated average of ozone is associated with an
9 eight percent higher risk of pneumonia, and a four
10 percent higher risk of upper respiratory infections.
11 And childhood asthma is much more increased with
12 higher ozone levels, as already been stated.
13 Last year at the Capitol, I was able
14 to testify that the current law allows ozone
15 emissions at 70 parts per billion in an eight—hour
16 average. But to protect our sensitive populations,
17 such as children and patients with asthma, the levels
18 should be no higher than 60 parts per billion. I
19 know that’s not currently part of this rule, but I
20 wanted to get that statement in.
21 So in conclusion, the Pennsylvania
22 standards for VOCs and ozone should be as low as
23 feasible with direct frequent inspections of all the
24 wells. Thank you.
25 MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Dr. Little.
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Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
MS. SHIRLEY;
All right. Next up is, looks like we have number 19,
Diane Nissen. Do we have Diane?
MS. NISSEN: I’m here. Can you hear
me?
_____________
Yes, we can hear you
Diane. Feel free t
I’m a
suburb
retired c
of Phila
o start.
IcISSEX: Great
omputer consultant
delphia
Y. u c h
My name is Diane.
from Haverford, a
of what I was going
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of the rules
r the release
to closely
of methan
to say in
support
and lowe
the air
comments
covered.
we heard
Goods on
minor it
p01 lut Ic
points a
has alrea
rather
I would
today fr
of Upper
con.munit
n because
nd they s
dy been said. So
than repeat what
just like to add
om many people, fi
Darby. He pointed
les are feeling the
they often live cI
uffer more with ast
monitor the release
e and other VOCs into
I will email my
has already been
my support to what
rst from Pastor
out how the
effects of air
ose to aollucion
hma and other
respiratory illnesses that
the release of air pollutan
they’re also likely to have
contract COVID—19.
are connected towe know
ts such a
poor res
S VOCs.
ults if
And
they
But today, we also heard from an
73
Court Reporting(814) 536—8908
Service, Inc.
with f
expectant mother and other citizens who live in
ractured wells who are also sufferingcounties
with as
put the
compani
gene rat
that de
planet
childre
Thank y
Next up
Janice
thma, cancer and other diseases. We need to
needs of our citizens, all citizens, ahead of
es who pollute. We need to leave the future
ions a legacy of environmental stewardship
creases the likelihood of a continuing warming
by reducing pollutants. We owe it to our
n, our grandchildren and all those to follow.
ou for listening, and holding this hearing.
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Ms. Nissen.
, we have number 20, Janice Myers. Do we have
on the line?
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do not.
kay.
er 21, Alexander
Downing on the line?
e do. One second.
kay
Downing? Do we
My name is Alex
MR. JAGIELA: No, we
MS. SHIRLEY: 0
What about numb
have Alexander
MR. JAGIELA: W
MS. SHIRLEY: 0
MR. DOWNING: Can
MS. SHIRLEY: Yes,
MR. DOWNING: Great.
And you
Hello —
Downing. I live at 2
you hear
we can
me?
hear
MS. SHIRLEY:
MR. DOWNING:
you.
can begin.
great. Hello.
246 Walters Road
Sargent’s
74
1 in Allison Park. That’s part of the suburbs just
2 north of Pittsburgh.
3 According to the DSP, there are at
4 least 89,320 oil and gas wells in our state. That’s
5 89,320 locations in our state which must be regularly
6 monitored for fugitive emissions of methane and VOCs
7 into the ground and air without exception.
S And because we live atop the Marcellus
9 Shale formation, and because Governor Wolf and the
10 current administration has decided to handcuff the
11 future of our state’s infrastructure and economic
12 stability to the natura gas industry through the
13 Restore PA plan, the number of these wells and the
14 facilities and pipelines associated with them will
15 continue to grow. So it’s important to me, as a
16 young person who wili be forced to live and deal with
17 the impact of the hundreds of thousands of potential
18 leaking hazards for decades to cone, that the state
19 take the next steps now to ensure that our
20 constitutional right to clean air and water are
21 protected.
22 According to recent reports by the
23 Environmental Defense Fund, which many people have
24 referenced so far, that has not been the case in the
25 past. The report found that the Pennsylvania DSP
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1 grossly underreported methane emission levels in
2 2017. The estimated emissions are 16 times greater
3 than those reported by the state, and in fact five
4 different counties were estimated to have emitted
5 more methane on their own than the DEP reported for
6 the entire state.
7 These discrepancies are due in part to
8 the same loopholes that exist in the newest DEP
9 emissions guidelines under discussion today.
10 Currently, the state does not monitor the majority of
11 conventional wells and operations. The newest
12 guidelines do nothing to resolve this issue. In
13 fact, the proposal states the following. Of the
14 71,229 conventional wells reported — reporting
15 production, only 303 are above the threshold for
16 having fugitive emissions component requirements.
17 That leaves 70,926 low production conventional gas
18 wells responsible for half of our emissions,
19 according to the EDF, unregulated for leaks.
20 These leaks are disastrous for the
21 environment as methane is 20 times more potent as a
22 greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, far outweighing
23 the benefits it provides as an alternative to coal
24 and oil when burned off properly. If the
25 discrepancies reported are correct, then nearly
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1 71,000 wells will continue to be at risk of leaking
2 methane without protections in place to detect and
3 repair them. The proposal then must be revised to
4 add more oversight for these low production
5 conventional well sites.
6 The proposal also fails to mention
7 abandoned wells as an area of concern. While these
8 sites are no longer used to extract oil and gas, they
9 pose the same risk of leaks as those currently in
10 operation and are often left in ruins and ignored by
11 regulators. Tioga estimates the number of these
12 abandoned wells to be in the hundreds of thousands,
13 dating back to the mid—1800s. And while the risk of
14 leaks occurring is relatively low compared to active
15 sites, they do still occur. A recent report from
16 Reuters linked 281 kilotons of methane emissions in
17 2018 to abandoned wells across the nation. That’s
18 equivalent to 16 million barrels of crude oil.
19 Since the proposal reports far fewer
20 wells to be monitored than Tioga estimates are in
21 existence in the state, one can only assume the state
22 does not plan on seeking out these abandoned sites,
23 abandoned well sites and monitoring them. The
24 proposal then must add provisions for tracking down
25 and regulating these abandoned wells to detect leaks
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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1
2
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0
7
8
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14
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20
monitored, specifically the
conventional wells and the
hundreds of thousands likel
logistically unobtainable,
se
ab
V
a
As the second la
producer in the cou
greenhouse gas emit
to make a decision.
exorbitant amounts of
patch up leaks of gree
VOCs as fast as they a
natural gas network, 1
pipeline whack—a—mole,
clean energy solutions
climate crisis and puts
I urge
solutions rather than
industries until it’s
low producing
andoned wells
found economi
nd that’s the
rgest natural
the third largest
e of Pennsylvania has
er continue spending
resources trying to
es and carcinogenic
ever expanding
innable game of
invest that money in
t contribute to the
ic’s health at risk
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
more comprehensively.
Increasing the amount of wells to be
Dy tens or
cally and
point.
gas
ntry and
ter, the
We can
money
nhouse
rise ±
ike an
or we
that
Stat
eith
and
gas
n an
unw
can
w o n’
the pubi
the DEP
propping
too late
Thank you.
to
to
pursue
fossil
change
41
22
23
24
25
or. the
Laurel
these
fuel
course.
Alex.
Do we
KS. SHIRLEY: Thank you,
list, we have Laurel Beitsinger.
on the line?
MS. BEITSINGER:
N e x t
have
Yes. Can you hear
78
1 me?
2 MS. SHIRLEY: tce can hear yOU.
3 MS. BEITSINGER: Okay.
4 Hello. My name is Laurel Beitsinger.
5 I’m a private citizen, and I an a resident of Economy
6 Borough, Beaver County in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
7 One evening, my husband and : were
8 arriving home when the whole sky lit up a bright
9 orange. We thought that something catastrophic had
10 occurred. Eventually, we found out that the bright,
11 orange glow was caused by flaring from a nearby shale
12 gas well pad in the area. Then I learned that the
13 local shale gas drilling company was building a well
14 pad just down the road from where my husband and I
15 had lived for 48 years and had raised our family. I
16 dreaded the pollution and volatile organic compounds
17 we would be exposed to as the diesel trucks made
18 thousands and thousands of trips up and down our
19 road, not to mention the pollution that would be —
2C that we would be exposed to once the wells were
21 drilled 24/7 and brine was stored onsite.
22 The more I found out about what was
23 going to happen, the more concerned I becane. I
24 realized that we would soon be sandwiched between two
25 well sites. We were concerned about the pollution
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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spea
Penn
kers befo
Sylvania’s
her home
transpare
d out the
11 as to
I hope
h of my f
th the me
traffic,
compress
lution each year.
we breathe, we de
state agencies to
children and our
posed methane rule
communities and t
ir.dustry loopholes
Is since these low
in the borough
ncy in this in
t we are close
the Revolution
my personal st
amily has been
thane and VOCs
flaring, wel
or stations
Bec
pend
do
gran
mu 5
for
pr
• However, due
dustry, we
to a compressor
Pipeline.
ory illustrates
cons tantly
coming from
1
£
and its effect
Sadly, we left
on our health, so we de
our family home after 1
moved to
to a lack
recently f
station as
cided to move
8 years and
anot
0:
oun
ho w
thre
dies
imp o
leak
the healt
atened wi
el truck
undments,
ing pipelines.
I
4
5
6
7
S
9
10
11
12
13
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15
16
17
18
19
20
21
‘.1
23
24
1 pads,
and possibly
re me, experts
As you have heard from many of the
venting
oil and ga
have reported that
more than a nilli
p01
air
and
our
pro
cur
no
we I
s industry is leaking and
on tons of methane air
ause we cant control the
upon our state officials
tner sobs and protect us,
dchildren. Our state’s
t be strengthened to protect
nvironment. There should be
low producing oil and gas
oducing wells are responsible
25 for much of the methane pollution in the state.
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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private citizen in
reduce methane and
the
fre
not
ust
the
for all
adopted
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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allow oil and
of inspections
significant me
to be frequent
proposed rule
emission sour
DEP not
quency
reveal
cc n tin u e
I am also requesting that
operators to reduce the
previous inspections do
ne leaks. :nspections m
d regular. In addition,
uld include requirements
covered in DEP’s already
and gas sources.
gas
tha
an
sho
ces
standards for new oil
In summary, I
protect our health and enviro
rules possible that eliminate
Thank you for the opportuntv
this evening.
have Quanita
ask that the DEP fully
nment with the strongest
any industry loopholes.
to present my testimony
Next up, we
Yes. Can you hear me?
Yes, we can hear you.
t:s. SHIRLEY: Thank you.
Kendrick.
MS. KENDRICK:
MS. SHIRLEY:
I’m going to start your timer.
MS. KENDRICK:
Jenni fe
live at
Pennsyl
Great. Thank you,
r (sic) . My name is Quanita Kendrick, and I
3316 North 13th Street in Philadelphia,
vania.
I’m here to offer testimony as a
favor of the proposed rules to
volatile organic compound
81
1 emissions from oil and natural gas sources. However,
2 the rule is not complete as it currently stands. As
3 is, there’s a gaping loophole that does not address
4 50 percent of the methane emissions. We can
5 strengthen this by, one, including low producing oil
6 and gas wells in the rule. And given that these are
7 responsible for more than half of methane pollution
B from gas and oil industry in ?ennsylvania. And two,
9 eliminating the portion of the oil and gas rule
10 allowing oil and gas operators to reduce the
11 frequency of inspections if previous inspections does
12 not show significant methane leaks. And that’s
13 because large uncontrolled leaks are random and need
14 to be continuously monitored for.
15 I’m a born and raised New Orleanian,
16 and for a large portion of my lifetime, environmental
17 issues with gas effects like these, like this one,
18 have had direct impact on my community. And it’s for
19 this reason that I promised my life’s work to be
20 dedicated to improving environmental and community
21 health. As a new resident of Pennsylvania, I would
22 like to live in and contribute to cleaner — to a
23 cleaner, healthier and safer state. Moreover, to a
24 cleaner and healthier country.
25 By closing the existing loophole in
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1 the rule, we, Pennsylvania, the second largest
2 natural gas producer, can reduce the amount of
3 greenhouse gases that we emit, of which we are
4 currently the third largest. Thank you for your
S time.
6 MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Ms. Hendrick.
7 flext up, we have number 24, Sean ielch. Do we have
S Sean on the line?
9 . MR. WELCH: Yeah. Yeah, can you near
10 me?
11 MS. SHIRLEY: Yes, we can hear you.
12 Go ahead and begin.
13 MR. WELCH: Thank you. My name is
14 Sean Welch. I’m a resident of Cheltenham,
15 Pennsylvania. Address, 804 Elkins Avenue, 19027.
16 Thank you for the occortunity to speak
17 at this hearing. I’m a student at Temple University
18 in Philadelphia where I study political science, but
19 I’ve taken a special interest in cimate change over
20 recent years. I brought this interest with me in my
21 travels to the mountain city of Cusco in Peru during
22 this past summer. There I learned that the dry
23 season and the wet season in Cusco had begun
24 overlapping in ways unseen in living memory, likely
25 because of the climate crisis. This meant warped
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1 harvesting seasons that disrupted croc yields in the
2 surrounding farmland. This meant children missing
3 meas, residents going hungry, and especially those
4 poor residents already living on the edges of abject
5 poverty.
6 At one point, I interviewed the
7 director of a local government department related to
8 environmental affairs and asked him what Peru was
9 doing to combat the climate crisis. As a country, he
10 told me that there’s little that Peru can do. In
11 2016, Peru emitted only 57 million tons of carbon
12 dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere. For•oontet,
13 that same year Pennsylvania alone emitted more than
14 four and a half times as many tons despite to being
15 home to less than half as many people.
16 Peru can hardly mitigate the climate
17 crisis because it barely contributes to it. Their
18 only option, he told me, like most governments of
19 this world, is to weather its blows in the hopes that
20 countries like the United States, those who have
21 created the climate crisis, change their ways.
22 Yet, our federal government has
23 largely advocated its duty to mitigate this crisis.
24 The wellbeing of billions of people now depends upon
25 states like Pennsylvania to step up to the plate,
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
1 although we have all seen that residents cf nearby
2 countries are not the only ones being harmed by the
3 climate crisis.
4 As highlighted several tires during
5 this hearing, the prevalence of fossil fuel
6 infrastructure across the country, particularly in low
7 income communities and communities of color, has led
8 to vast respiratory health disparities amplified by
9 COVID—l9. Unfettered, the climate crisis stands to
10 deepen these inequities in Pennsylvania through a
11 myriad of ways, from extreme heat waves feli hardest
12 in under resourced, urban areas to decreased crop
13 yields across the Commonwealth.
14 Fortunately, the state government of
15 Pennsylvania has the privilege of mitigating those
16 impacts, a privilege unafforded to entire countries
17 like that of Peru. Cutting methane pollutions in the
18 oil and gas industry in the state is the best place to
19 state. Pennsylvania’s the second largest natural gas
20 producing state in the country. Methane, the main
21 component of natural gas, is 87 times more potent over
22 a 20 year timeline than carbon dioxide is at trapoing
23 heat in our atmosphere.
24 Pennsylvania’s oil and gas industry
25 however vents and leaks a whopping 1.1 million tons of
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1 methane each year, over 16 times more than what the
2 industry itself reports to see.
3 As you all know, as were discussing
4 today, the Pennsylvania Deoartr.ent of Environmental
5 Protection has proposed a rule to reduce methane and
6 harmful pollutants from existing natural gas
7 infrastructure. While the proposed rule is critical
8 for cutting climate warming, methane and harmful
9 volatile organic compounds from oil and gas sources,
10 and unfortunately includes loopholes that would leave
11 over half of all potential cuts to methane pollution
12 unchecked.
13 The Department must remove these
14 loopholes to ensure we are cutting as much methane as
15 is feasible. Therefore, I urge the Department to make
16 the following improvements to the proposed rule.
17 Firstly, close the loophole in the proposed rulemaking
18 that exempts low producing wells from the rules
19 leaking section requirements. Low producing wells are
20 responsible for more than half of the methane
21 pollution from oil and gas sources in Pennsylvania,
22 and all wells regardless of production reauire routine
23 inspections.
24 Secondly, eliminate the provision that
25 allows operators tc reduce the frequency of
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includes
cove ring
and gas sources.
Thank you for
plea
adopt
isis.
of mit
reside
that
MS. ZOVICH:
MS. SHIRLEY:
MS. ZOVICH:
se close the
a strong fin
Unlike most
igating the i
nts. I urge
privilege fo
Thank you,
Do we have
86
only a
earch
only
industry
al rule t
of the wo
mpact of
the
r granted
Sean. Next
Beatrice on
Can you
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
inspections if previous inspections reveal that
small percentage of components are leaking. Res
shows that uncontrolled leaks are random and can
be detected with frequent and regular inspections.
And finally, ensure this proposal
requirements for all emission sources
DEE’s already adopted standards for new oil
considering my
testimony. In summary,
friendly loopholes and
attacks the climate cr
we have the privilege
climate crisis on our
Department not to take
Thank you.
hat
rld,
the
up,
the
MS. SHIRLEY:
we have
line?
Beatrice Zovich.
hear me?
Yes, I’m here.
Yep,
Okay,
Hello.
and I am a resident of
we can
great.
hear you.
My name is Sea
Philadelphia.
trice Zovich,
In order to
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
protect public health,
champion, and meet the
Executive Order, Gover
rule that cuts methane
gas infrastructure in
and the
the mid
87
1 imate
9
strong
1 and
was ever
f people
r.ow in
f there
the heath o
fined, it is
repair his legacy as a c
goals of his January 201
nor wolf must finalize a
pollution on existing oi
Pennsylvania I
a time at which the links between
environment was clearly de
St ot the COVIO—19 pandemic
This respiratory
light on our air quality.
ates heart and lung illness,
ma and COPD, and people with
t at risk for serious complications and
s from COVID—19
nerable communi
previously to provide
who have experienced i
health and substance a
bright
exacerb
emphyse
are mos
outcome
the vul
1
2
-3
a
S
C
7
8
9
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virus shines a
Air pollution
including asthma,
these conditions
adverse
e
I
many
worke
their hy
members of
d
those
ntal
n to
• These includ
ties with whom
social services, including
linesses and living with me
buse challenges, in additio
sical health concerns.
Unfortunately,
some of the worst air qual
estimated in a 2018 analys
nse Fund hat Pennsylvania
has
was
De fe I-
Pennsylvania already
ity in the nation. It
is by the Environmental
‘s natural gas operators
emit more than 16 times more methane
to the state DEP, or more than 1.1 million tons
than they report
88
I annually. Some cf the many effects of the resulting,
2 rising temperatures are the increasingly strange
3 weather and more severe storms and floods that we have
4 been seeing recently that cause property damage,
5 agricultural loses, injury and death, and it will only
6 get worse unless we act quickly.
7 Common sense standards that cut
8 harmful air and methane pollution and climate action
9 in general are supported by a majority of
10 Pennsylvanians. The Wolf administration should
11 continue its work to advance draft rules to cut
12 methane and air pollution from oil and gas
13 infrastructure at a time when protecting public health.
14 and safeguarding our climate are more important than
15 ever. We cannot afford to — I’m sorry. We cannot
16 afford to — sorry, I lost my place. Okay — okay. We
17 cannot afford to neglect Pennsylvania’s climate crisis
18 and its impact on public health and the environment.
19 This is also especially critical at this juncture in
20 u.s. history because data shows that environmental
21 injustices tend to affect black and brown communities
22 more adversely than white communities.
23 In addition to methane, oil and gas
24 operations that leak other air pollutants such as
25 volatile organic compounds which contribute to ground
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1 level ozone that can worsen respiratory diseases and
2 increase the risk of heart disease and heart attacks,
3 oil and gas operations also release toxins into the
4 air such as benzene which can contribute to heart,
5 liver, kidney and central nervous system damage as
6 well as blood disorders and even cancer.
7 It is essential that the DEP finalize
8 a strong existing source methane rule that is cost
9 effective to protect the health of Pennsylvanians and
10 safeguard their climate. Specifically, the agency
11 should reduce or close the loophole in the draft rule
12 for low producing wells that are responsible for more
13 than half of the methane pollution from oil and gas
14 sources in Pennsylvania, and eliminace the provision
15 that allows operators to reduce the frequency of
16 inspections just because previous inspections did not
17 reveal significant leaks. Both the latest research
18 and experience of other states demonstrates that a
19 large, uncontrolled leak can happen at any time and
20 can only be detected with frequent regular
21 inspections. Cutting methane emissions is the
22 suickest, most cost effective way we can reduce
23 emissions now and is a critical down payment on our
24 climate and our future.
25 In the face of federal rollbacks by
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12
13 Next up, Nancy
14 the line?
15
16 do not have La
17
18
19
20 you hear me?
21
22 Hi, David.
23
24
25 I’m a resident
in
a
MS.
the Trump administration, Governor Wolf is taking
action to adopt the strongest possible methane rule
Pennsylvania is more important than ever. Given the
large amount of natural and greenhouse gas it
produces, PA has a responsibility to step up and be
national leader in reducing harmful methane and air
collution irom existing oil and gas infrastructure.
Please take this opportunity to take a step in the
right direction for a healthy populous and climate,
especially at this time when the future seems very
bleak. Thank you for your time and consideration.
SHIRLEY: Thank you, Beatrice.
26. Do we have Nancy on
___________
No, we do not. And we
the line either.
Be rt en tha 1?
_______________—
Yeah, I’m here. Can
_____________
Yes, we can hear you.
________________
Hi. Okay.
Parks, number
MR JAGIELA:
Perkins on
SHIRLEY:
ura
MS Okay.
What about David
MR. SERTENTHAL:
MS. SHIRLEY:
MR. BERTENTHAL:
So my name is David Bertenchal, and
of the City of Pittsburgh,
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Pennsylvania. And you know, I’m really glad I got to
listen to all this testimony honestly. And you know,
you may have heard the same thing multiple times by
multiple people, but I think it needs to be said. I
think it needs to be heard. I think the chorus of
voices saving’4hat needs to be done is incredibly
Important to this process. Sc I just want to say that
everybody is incredibly awesome here who — who called
in, and it’s just wonderful listening to all this.
I’m going to ask for three
improvements for the rulemaking here. And first, I
want to go off script here. We’ll see how well I do
on this. Is — you know, it was the industry’s idea —
you know, I’m — it’s — it’s an aggravating thing to
have to — to have to go to these meetings, right?
This is like a no brainer thing. We know that PA is,
what? Isn’t it the third most methane producing in
the entire country? We — we know the industry is
absolutely toxic to — to humans.
We have to fight chinos like House
Bill 1106 that wanted to give the review process 30
days for regulating air quality, waste erosion and
sediment, dam safety. And after 3D days, all — all
gas drilling applicaticns would default to approved.
This is the industry’s idea of pushing through these —
92
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pushing through their industry. Well, okay. So I’m
not so great when I go — go off scrict.
But let’s talk about 1:07 where it
wanted to actually eliminate all employees in the DEP
who are involved with the permitting process. So an
already stretched DIP, they just wanted to elimir.ate
it with a politically approved five member commission.
So — so tnis 15 wnat we’re fighting
against here. And you know, so what I think should be
done is I think the loophole should be closed for
rulemaking that exempts low producing wells from rule
leak detection and repair requirements.
Low producing wells are — it’s been
said before, are responsible for more than half of the
methane pollution for oil and gas sources in
Pennsylvania. I shouldn’t have to tell anyone. We
are on the precipice of a climate crisis. And I’m not
being hyperbolic when i say if we want to remain on
this planet without incurring catastrophic
environmental changes due to climate change, we need
to reduce methane pollution. Read the sixth
extinction book if you have not read it.
Elimir.ate the oart of the draft rule
il and gas operations to reduce the
inspections if previous inspections
that allows •o
frequency of don’t
93
1 reveal significant methane leaks. We know that leaks
2 are random events. This is precisely the reason they
3 should be checked often. I ask not to reduce the
4 frequency of these tests based on any number of
5 historic tests.
6 Third, co ensure the proposal includes
7 requirements for all methane emission sources covered
S in DEP’s already adopted standards for new and oil gas
9 sources. This includes pigging operations, liquid
10 unloading operations, and compressors located at well
11 pads.
12 I will mention that air pollution
13 occurs at every single stage of oil and gas
14 development. Every single stage. I don’t have to
15 mention that air pollution from natural gas sties can
16 cause low birth rates. This has been said before.
17 What about Brian and Ryan Kanick in Deanson, PA. They
18 have a well pad 300 feet from their home. They’ve
19 been told by toxicologists not to breathe their air,
20 drink their water or be exposed to their ground. What
21 are we left with if we cannot breathe our air, drink
22 our water or be exposed to our own soil?
23 If you have not had the opportunity to
24 experience a well pad, let me share an experience of
25 what it’s like being near one. According to Lois
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rks
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B owe r — B
odors ±
taste i
if this
Air Council, there are
One of them is a metal
that if you’re not sure
jornson from the Clean
n case ycu experience.
n your mouth. Consider
is good for human health.
And finally, regulation and
rulemaking are our only protections from the health
and environmental damage caused by the oil and gas
industry. Our health is not separate from the
environmental damage increased methane leaks will
cause. It’s DEP’s duty to protect our communities,
our air, and our water from an industry that deals in
a product that is toxic to the human existence. Thank
you.
told that we have
MS
start?
amMS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, David. I
Laura Perkins on the line.
. PERKINS: Hi. Can you hear me
MS. SHIRLEY: Yes, we can hear you
MS. p:RK:ws Thank you. Should I
MS. SH:RLEY:
MS. PERKINS:
Hi there.
I’m a Pittsburgh resider
Street, Apartment One, P
community member that wo
Yep, go ahead.
Okay.
name is Laura Perkins.
306 South Fairmcunt
burgh, PA :5232. I’m a
at Casa San Jose, which is
95
1 a Latino nonprofit based out of Pittburgh. My
2 personal responsibility is emergency response in
3 dealing with family separation.
4 I support this proposal. However, I
5 think you could do an even better job with two
6 modifications. As a greenhouse gas, leaked methane
7 absorbs the sun’s heat and contributes to global
B warming. Climate change is a large push factor for
9 immigration alongside other social, political and
10 economic factors. Climate change manifests itself in
11 the form of droughts, heavier rain seasons, stronger
12 and more frequent storms and rising sea levels for
13 coastal communities.
14 I work with many people who have
15 sought refuge in the United States because of these
16 push factors. Their families have — have had much
17 lower, if not entirely wiped out, seasonal yields in
16 farming. In order to pay for school costs and loans
19 that they nad taken out to purcnase rarming equipment,
20 families will send one or more family members to the
21 united States in search of a more stable life and to
22 send back money to their home. Family separation is a
23 traumatic effect of immigraticr. and of climate change.
24 You have the ability to take an
25 important step in the right direction today. These
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nflLL
23
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y important in
gases into the
t being said, I ask
First, for
producing lower
And secondly, to not
of inspections for
reveal significant
ndom, and without
e leak could happen
which would
and could affect
Next up,
Do we have
_____________
Yes, I’m here. Can you
_____________
Yep, we can hear you.
_____________
Thank you. Just let me
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
protective measures a
mitigating the releas
already polluted atmo
for two improvements
inspections on our pa
amounts of oil and na
permit the reduction
oii and gas operators
leaks. Uncontrolled
those regular inspect
for a while before it
neqatively affect the
re incredibl
e of harmful
sphere. Tha
to be made.
ds and wells
tural gas.
of freauer.cy
that do not
leaks are ra
ions, a larg
is detected
envi ronment
immigration.
Thank you for your work on this issue,
and for considering the impact of immigrants in this
policy that — the impact that it could have. Thank
you.
we’re going
Nora on the
hear me?
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you
to number 29, Nora Johnson.
line?
MS. JOHNSON:
MS. SHIRlEY:
go ahead and begin.
MS. JOHNSON:
3
-J
0
7
9
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by 4,400
year. An
amount to
emissions
by only 7
percent,
u n con V
a rule
The rule
r year,
these
per cc
this
nt and
is no
ional
this kind.
predicted to
methane by 7
arge numbers
of total annual
methane
by less
1
2
first s
comment
tart
S
out by
Dave —
entirely with what he had to say about the
today. Its been great to listen.
In proposing the rule
e •organc compounds and met
om Wolf and the Pennsylvani
tal Protection. Given the
of volatil
Governor T
Environ men
thousands
conventional
is high time
of
and
for
methane
97
saying I very much appreciated the
David Bertenthal, and I could agree
speakers
on the capture
hane gas, I thank
a Department of
burden of tens of
and VOCs from
oil and gas wells, it
a
of
tons of fugitive
ent
of
is
and
are 1
ntage
rule,
VOCs
t enough.
tons pe
d while
a small
Under
.5 perce
and this
reduce VOCs
5,600 tons per
they only
will
than
Pennsylvania is a major emitter of
be reduced
seven
greenhouse •gas and toxic air pollution as a result of
its investment in oil and gas operations dating back
century and a half. The older oil wells are still
leaking pollution, and oil wells from. the beginning
uncor.ventional shale gas drilling, as well as
currently operating oil and gas facilities, have
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1 greatly increased the air pollution load.
2 Pennsylvanians cay dearly for the
3 success of the oil and gas industry. Because our air
4 is dangerous to breathe, our water is compromised, and
S cur forests and farmlands are damaged. Our health is
6 compromised in many ways. In addition, each of us
7 paid a lot of money to keep big oil and gas afloat.
B In addition to the cost of human and
9 animal disease, we pay in taxpayer dollars to
10 companies getting tax breaks, and we pay to remediate
11 the environmental damage done over the years. To plug
12 an old well can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
13 Plugging old wells and capturing fugitive emissions
14 are true costs of producing and processing oil and
15 gas. But the industry does not treat them as such.
16 No, the industry passes them off to us, the public.
17 And we allow them to do so and pick up the tab.
18 While the industry complains that he
19 new rule will cost them too much, the DEP is reported
2D to estimate the average cost per operator to be S5,00D
21 and that is not too much to ask of these companies.
22 :ndeed, much more needs to be done to capture fugitive
23 methane and VOCs. Please, do not exempt low producing
24 wells. Do go after methane directly, and do require
25 the oil and gas industry to foot the bill.
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99
K ext
have
up, we have number 30
Corir.ne on the line?
MS . NAYLAND
MS. SHIRLEY:
really should have practiced
should have learned my lesso
so —
Begin.
MS. MAYLAND:
MS. SHIRLEY:
MS. MAYLAND:
Mayland. I live at
Montgomery County,
private citizen.
I applaud
nvested in. draft
ct to get input,
is. And I want
I also want edi
reductions
Specifically,
the exemption that low
Thank ‘iou, >is.
Corinne Mayland.
Corinne, Ccrinne?
Corinne, yes.
Thank you. I should
these names today. I
n yesterday, but I did
No worries.
— apologies for that.
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
Thank you for giving me this
opoortunity to speak.
MS. SHIRLEY: Johnson.
Do we
1
not
1
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‘D1LL
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25
So my name’s Corinne
705 Whites Road, Lansdale in
Pennsylvania. I’m testifying as a
the extensive time and
ing the proposed rule. It
build a framework, iron out
the proposed rulemaking to
ts that achieve even more
efforts i
takes a 1
the detai
pass, but
emissions
remove
what I want
production s
is one, to
ites would
100
1 get from fugitive emissions inspections. Make it
2 universal to all well sites and infrastructure. Two,
3 I want the frequency of future emissions inspections
4 to be constant over time. So clease remove the oction
5 for ocerators to reduce the frecuencv of LiDAR.
5 Three, I want a single standard for whether a storage
7 vessel is an affected source. Remove the distinctions
B made for conventional versus unconventional and for
9 construction year. And instead, use the proposed 2.7
10 tons per year threshold for all of them. Lastly, I
11 want concomitant rules about decommissioning wells in
12 a manner that protects the environment with potential
13 incentives for compliance.
14 So I’m here talking to you today
15 because I’m concerned about both the VOC and methane
16 emissions, but it’s really the collateral reduction of
17 the methane emissions that especially interests me.
18 As we’ve already heard tonight, in the first 20 years
19 after it’s released into the atmosphere, methane heats
20 up the climate 80 times more than the equivalent
21 amount of carbon dioxide as published by the 19CC.
22 So to head off even more intenSely
23 chaotic weather activity, we must dramatically
24 decrease the current emissions in the next ten years.
25 We need to accelerate our carbon emissions reduction
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4 first three c
5 exceptions so
6 that reduces
7 analogy to he
B car in Pennsy
9 have to get a
10 emissions tes
11 drive the car
12 testing if yo
13 car’s a 2013
14 road, it has
15 test.
16
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19
20
21
22
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25
101
and aggressively reducing methane emissions is key to
achieving that.
Now, the edits that I mentioned, the
f them were about removing some of the
that we could have a common standard
more methane emissions. And here’s an
lp get my point across. :.‘1ost of us own a
ivania. If you want to drive it, you
n annual inspection and an annual
t. There’s no exemption if you only
a little. There’s no less frequent
u pass, and there’s no difference if your
or earlier model. To be legal on the
to get an annual inspection emissions
The same principles apply here. One,
low producing wells should be required to do AVG and
LiDAR inspections. Two, operators should not be able
to opt for less frequent inspections, and three, the
type of well and the construction year should have no
rule in determining if the storage vessel is an
effective source.
Now, some night push back on my
request saying eh, they’re just smal sites with
relatively small emissions. But there are tens of
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
1 thousands of low
2 altogether those
3 citing research
4 Fund, estimates
5 wells are respo
6 emissions from
7 They’ve got to
8 regulations.
9
10 changes means
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producing conventional wells,
small sites add up. The Sier
conducted by the Environmental
that the low producing convent
nsible for about half of the me
Pennsylvania’s oil and gas indu
be brought in underneath these
102
and
ra Club,
Defense
ional
thane
stry
I also recognize that my request for
perhaps thousands more operators would
of
be subject to the rulemaking. And yes, the cost to
operators of meeting the requirement may cause many
the low producing well sites to no longer be
financially viable. That’s just a business concept
called economies of scale. The thing is, modifying
the rule that way introduces a potentially negative
effect. It could be a low — it could no longer be
financially valuable, and then the — financially
viable, and then the well’s production may be halted.
But not
full
So what we really need is for the DEP
to conduct a review of the existing requirements for
capping wells and the operators to •get incentives to
follow through so these sites aren’t just lingering
then, the well could be
y decommissioned
left in limbo and
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
emit
old
fucu
need
103
tars. The CE? is already struggling to remediate
legacy wells. We don’t need our kids or the
re taxpayers to inherit the cost of more wels in
Ct remeolation.
So all my proposed modifications are
tontended, as pointed by the previous talkers,
align the known and anticipated downstream
also i
better
costs t
is doin
the pub
change,
term by
reducti
public
cperati
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o the upstream source. Right now, the public
g the healthcare costs of those emissions. And
lic is paying the increasing cost of climate
which are known to be amplified in the short
methane. Setting ccmprehensive emissions
on reouirener.ts shifts those costs from the
to the triggerino source of the costs, the
on of these wells and stations.
So in order for us to do more for the
our citizens, which is the core
please pass the proposed rules
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Ms. Mayland.
have Sandra O’Hara. Do we have Sandra on
health and safety of
of the DEP’s mission,
and strengthen
requirements I
them
‘ye o
with the
utlined.
more
Thank
expansive
you
blext up, we
the line?
O’hare, but 1 go by Billi.
MS. O’l-{ARA: Yes, yes. I’m Sandra
:‘m a citizen. of
2 Greater Pi
3 today as a
S reduce the
6 an existing
7 amendment d
8 which is a
9 change. T
10 companies
11 producing,
12 ability to
13 compliant
14 addressed
15
16 continuing to
17 methane relea
18 Pennsylvania,
19 national expe
20 increasing st
21 damages from
22 issues are a:
23 Pennsylvania
24 this past yea
25
1 Murrysville, Pennsylvania and lye lived in the
104
ttsburgh area since 2016. I’m testifying
private citizen.
I suaport the croposed measures to
organic compounds fromvolat ilerelease of
oes
ma j
his
acc
an
phas
wells
be fore
11 within infrastructure. However, this
not adequately address methane release
or contributor to anthropogenic climate
amendment must be altered to hold
ountable for emissions from their low
d any abandoned wells. Additionally, the
e out routine inspections for regularly
is unacceptable and should be
the adoption of this amendment.
Our climate system is complex. By
release greenhouse gases, including the
sed by the oil and gas industry in
we are recklessly engaging in a giant
riment. I worry about the — about
orm intensity and a rise in economic
flooding and instability. Stability
ready economically significant for
taxpayers. The municicality I lived in
r reported in their 2019 budget document
that they addressed about $1 million on unexpected
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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23
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department
identifying
here to Penn
with local g
Pennsylvania
very serious
consistently
present c
increased
2018.
Changes in temperature and
also affect growing seasons an
ty to produce food. Personal
outdoors. So a local concern
climate will exacerbate exist
like ticks and mosquitoes.
species will become viable
I worked for a county health
in New York for a summer collecting and
mosquitoes for virus testing before moving
sylvania. So I have firsthand experience
overnment response to disease vectors. In
Lyme disease is an often overlooked,
public health issue. And they’re
testing positive for West Nile.
Increased diseases, if they are
an — positive samples in an area often mean
events that have their own associated health
if not properly implemented.
n, I support adding this
emissions from existing
re continuing monitoring
story and increased
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
landslides in
precipitation
farmers’ abili
spending time
chat a warming
disease factors
that new vector
community.
105
enjoy
ne is
ry
my
d our
y, I
of mi
ing
I wor
within
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In conclusio
amendment to reduce harmful
wells. Suc we need to ensu
regardless of compliance hi
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coverage to
Better yet,
innovative
envi ronment
start your timer
Bellwoar, and I’m a
grew up between Del
County. I spent a
public parks and on
cousins. And when
ci
a w a
lot
the
I go
Darek
ye on
get
33,
Hi, I’m here.
Hi, Jessica.
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
have Ge
Are we
raid
able
106
include low producing and abandoned wells.
let’s shift our focus from oil and gas to
alternatives so we can minimize health and
al impacts going forward. Thank you.
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you. Next up, we
Walsh. Do we have Gerald on the line?
to find and unmute Gerald, Derek?
MR. JAGIELA: I do have him, but for
I cannot unmute him right now. I’ll send
MS. SHIRLEY:
some
him
reason
a message
Gerald,
going to mo
once we can
have number
you. we’re
circle back
out. Do we
line?
Dkay.
is going to reach out to
and then we’ll — we’ll
your technology figured
Jessica Bellwoar on the
MS. BELLWOAR:
MS. SHIRlEY:
________________
I will
MS. BELL!tJDAR: My name is Jessica
tizen of south Philadelphia.
re County and Reading in Berks
of time outside as a child in
lands my family owned, with my
out to Reading now to visit
two younger
area of at
other oil
and live.
and there’
communitie
that’s why
leaks will
of if, but
to
We continue
se massive fos
for it as citizens.
super
r state.
ucture.
ly in —
dangers
sociated
randmom a
who live a
pipelines,
and gas facilities
And - and what do we
s methane and VDC poll
s, will help us in man
I’m testifying today.
continue to happen.
And we’ll continue
and hurricanes and
then we have to
in Reading also faces
of living near oil and
with climate change.
nd aunt and uncle and
half mile within the
and within range of
do when leaks happen,
ution in our
y ways, and — and
Because you know,
And it’s not a matter
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
them, I can
compared to
Philadelphia
smell the difference in
Philadelphia. And the
and Pittsburgh should
our state, and
air q
air cc
not be
and
i.i alit y
ilution
definin
107
in
g in
yet it does in many ways.
as a state to give tax
sil fue companies, andbrea
we r
to p
mass
inve
air
gas
And
ks to the
e caving
ay for it
flooding
st in new
pollution
wells and
I worry ab
5 t 0 r m 5
And
as tnese
grasp ou
infrastr
My fami
plus the
risks as
out my g
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cous
least
ins
two
around where they work
::‘ baffling tome that we continue
invest in fossil fuel and fracking technologies
ly regulating the toxins that are coing
imate air and human bodies. And we can’t
cut oil and gas industry profits over
without fiji
into our ci
continue to
public health of everyda
we — we do that in the m
So I’m a
myself are going to
rations, Pennsylvani
th problems, and we’
e consequences with
— and our human bodi
rtunity now to stop
entering our atmosp
osal that’s been put
and strengthen the p
protecting
ure generat
paring for
idren and
108
nians. Arid — and
pandemic right now.
So millennials
and future
mental and public
be paying for
taxpayer dollars,
have an
e and C02 emissions
support this
urge the DEP to
emaking so that we
y ?ennsylva
iddie of a
millennial.
inherit —
a’s environ
re going to
— with our
es. ‘nd we
more nethan
here. And
out, but I
roposed rul
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like
gene
heal
thos
and
cppo
from
prop
act
are
fut
pre
chi
improvemen
currently
detection
to elimin
our environment, human lives, and all
ions. Because it’s time to start
the next century and thinking about our
protecting our health.
So I urge DEP to make the following
Closing the loopholes that are
sting with low producing wells from leak
the repair recuirements. And then also
the provision that allows operators to
ts
cxi
and
ate
reduce the freauency of the inspections if previous
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MR. JAGIELA:
MS. SHIRLEY:
Thar.k you.
____
Oka
that
Do we have
the line?
GIELA: For some reason,
him again.
IRLEY:
______________
Again?
He was
_____________
Okay.
t — the unmute did work,
t Bernard Greenberg?
MR. GREENBERG:
MS. SHIRLEY:
Go ahead
MR. GREE
All right.
and begin, Mr. Gre
NBERG: I’m Bernard
Pennsylvan
Penn s v 1 v a ri i
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
inspections do reveal
insignificant leaks.
109
both significant and — and even
MS. SHIRLEY:
unmute
Gerald
I — we heard
Gerald Walsh.
unmuted and on
MR. IA
y, thank
we were
Jarod -
you Jessica.
able to
excuse me,
unmu
MS
te
SR
it 5
not letting me
not. What abou
Okay.
speaking.
I
Yes, I’m here.
894
I’m
or
Jeff
—
the
but it does
enberg.
Greenberg,
ia 19380.
a Chapter
ferson Way, cest Chester
tifying on behalf of the
Sierra Club.
For the past five years, I’ve
chairman of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Sie
Club’s Pipeline Committee. And during this t
become very familiar with the harmful effects
methane emissions. I will begin by listing s
been
rra
ime, I’ve
of
ix facts
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2
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natural
is the
the U.S
that Pc
1.1 mu
15 time
one hal
oil and
already
auality
by 2030
yearly
to 14 m
now and for
responsible
change. It
year period
the dangers
mitigate it.
house gas
1 Defense
gas opera
methane a
port to t
ye within
the state.
— one of the
ted States.
of methane wil
ctions will on
a
Me
of
ta
nts
ds
largest
Penns y Ivan i a
ucing state in
estimates
emit more than
r or 15 tons —
EP. One and
half mile of
cnn s v lv an i a
worst air
t is projected
1 be emitted
ly decrease it
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(314) 536—8906
underlying the problem for the residents of our
Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania is the second
state in tne U.S
110
prod
Fund
tots
yea
he 0
one
P
gas producing
third largest green
The Environmenta
nnsylvania natural
lion short tons of
s more than they re
f million people ii
gas facilities in
has become one of
states in the Uni
20 million tons
and existing prote
illion tons.
Global warming is
future generations.
for about 25 percent
is 86 times as poten
Most of our reside
of global warming an
Approximately 50
conventional wells and
serious concern
thane is
current climate
s C02 over a 20
are well aware
uport measures
are from
of
to
percent of emissions
50 percent from
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
111
unconventional wells. Leaks are by far and away the
biggest problem, and large uncontrolled leaks can
occur at an’: time.
We must protect our residents who live
near well pads, particularly
the elderly, poor,
chronic medical
loophole exists
of methane emiss
strong, methane
by 60 percent.
1
3
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pC
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exis
and
cons
cont
w ill
children, pregnant women,
peop±e or color, ann all tnose with
conditions. A loophole would — a
in the draft rule and thus, 50 percent
ions problems is not addressed. A
emission rule could reduce pollution
The DE? needs to develop a strong,
methane rule that is cost effective
e health of our residents. They must
fect of emissions in contributing —
global warming, which if unchecked
rophic consequences.
Now, we must strengthen the rules by
ting
prote
ider
ribut
have
source
cts th
the ef
ing to
cata st
permanently cbs
askinD for two c
wells which are
methane pollutio
provision
ing two obvi
hanges. :nc
responsible
n in the dra
ous loophole
lude all low
for one half
ft rule. El
5.
pro
or
imin
am
ducing
the
ate the
reduce the frequency
of the draft rule that permits
insoeccions
Frequent, re
of inspections
operators to
if previous
fail to reveal significant leaks.
gular inspections remain the mainstay for
2
-J
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‘a
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Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
detecting leaks
112
Strong protections can drastically
reduce methane emissions which will protect the health
of our residents and diminish the leaks — the risks
from global warming. It is up to the DEP to establish
and enforce these protections. This is particularly
imperative in view of the many rollbacks instituted by
the present federal administration. Thank you.
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Mr.
Greenberg. We’re going to try one more time to unmute
Gerald Walsh. Do we have Mr. Walsh on the line?
MR. WASH: Can you hear me?
MS. SHIRLEY: Yes, we can hear you.
MR. WALSH: Can you hear me?
MS. SHIRLEY: Yes. Okay, third tine’s
the charm, I guess. All right, I will start your
timer.
MR. WALSH: Thank you for your
attention and consideration. I’m Gerald Walsh. I
live at 51 Hutchison Road, Claysville, Pennsylvania
15323 and actually in West Finley Township out in the
country.
And : first want to state that in its
constitution, Article One Section 27 which intends to
protect — protect the health and enviror.ment, I hope
2
2
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:‘ve worked
the advent
almost seve
of Fridays
about the e
in seasons
the
our
re —
I’m a retired
primarily in the
of CCVID—19, we’d
n months sitting
for Future, but
nvironment after
in Irvine when w
My wife and
0 years ago to be
ur own private, n
we’ve been very
both had
fracking
r. So we
ring wate
ziness we
o be help
in which
road. A
through government oversight of the oil and gas
industries.
113
software engineer, and
Pittsburgh area. Before
spend every Friday for
in Pittsburgh in support
became even more concerned
seeing the climate changes
e’re visiting regularly.
I moved here to the
in a place that had heathy
atural spring water. Well,
concerned about the cuality
count r
air an
recent
do
ly,
ively fra
nstances
in — inc
of air and the water as they’re act
in area. We’re well aware of the i
ra rare cancers which have occurred
this.
My wife and myself have
symptoms which are often indicative of
effluents contaminating our water or ai
since switched to purchasing natural sp
eliminate the low grade illness and diz
experiencing. And so far, that seems t
There are two locations
liquid natural gas pipeline crosses the
cking
o:
luding
ye
r to
re
mo.
s we
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
114
1 passed one of these recently, we were able to smell
2 air and perhaps benzene emitting from these lines. It
3 was reported — after this time actually. However,
4 these lines are Known to have a frequent problem with
5 methane and volatile organic compound leaks. Not only
6 our health, but the health of our neighbors and their
7 constituents here — we hope that you’ll do the right
8 thing. t’e feel it’s incumbent upon the EPA to put
9 standard regulations to verify that all existing
10 sites, not just new sites, are regularly checked for
11 emissions. There are effects of methane and VOC
12 leakage upon human health.
13 Our nation is currently experiencing
14 — pandemic, and I’m certain none of us wish to see
15 this repeated. However, according to the World Health
16 Organization’s webpage on climate change and human
17 health, they indicate, and I quote, changes in
18 infectious disease transmission patterns are likely a
19 maJor consequence or tne change, unquote. : orten
20 mention that scientists at regional — I’m sorry.
21 iethane emissions are 80 times more
22 potent than 002 emissions affecting climate change
23 over a 20 year period. That thing is also believed to
24 be responsible for approximately 25 percent of the
25 global warming we’re experiencing today. A recent
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ecially those with low output.
your attention
SHIRLEY: Thank you, Mr
reminder to please make sure
testimony at — at RegComment
ure that we accurately capture
t — that you would like to present
Next up, let’s see, we
we have Ms. Farb on the
MS. FARE: I’m trying.
MS. SHIRLEY: There you
MS. FARB: Am I on mute
MS. SHIRLEY: Try again
analysis indicated
report.ng existing
15
that the gas industry isn’t
methane gas leaks by a factor
lID
existin
regular
or
g gas wells,
iy inspected,
I believe it is critical that
pipelines and compressors
including old as well as
and a
YOU ver
0ls
y
o es
mucn for
all
be
new and
MS
Thank
1
Just one more
emai us your
just to make s
everything tha
to the Boa
Walsh.
chat you
@pa . govS
rd
Joan a rb. Do
to
have numbe
line?
r 35,
can hear you
go.
again?
— nope. We
Okay.MS. FARE:
My name is Joan Farb, and I live
Newtown, Bucks County, Per. nsylvania . Thank you
this opportunity to speak at this virtual hearTh
in
:or
a
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
116
1 about DEE’s proposed regulations to limit climate
2 warming methane pollution and harmful VOCs from
3 existing oil and gas operations. tethane is a main
4 component of natural gas, and — and contributes 86
5 times more than C02 to atmospheric warming in a short
6 period of time according to the Intergovernmental
7 Panel of Climate Change reported in the Scientific
8 American on December 22nd, 2015.
9 One of the effects of climate change
10 is more intense storms, causing flooding, power
11 outages, downed trees and wires, resulting in property
12 damage, bodily injury and even death. On June 3rd,
13 there was such a storm. My family was fortunate,
4 unlike 66,000 other Bucks County residents who lost
15 power, including a friend of mine. Also, there was
16 property damage in the area from fallen trees and
17 branches.
18 So regulating the methane emissions
19 from the oil and gas activities will help lessen such
20 detrimental effects of climate change. However, all
21 the wells need to be regulated, not just those
22 producing 15 or more barrels daily since they only
23 produce 50 percent of the methane emissions.
24 According to a recent updated research
25 report from the Environmental Defer.se Fund, it was
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
117
I found that 1.1 million tons of methane were emitted
2 annually from Pennsylvania wells which was 15 times
3 higher than reported to the DEP from the companies.
4 In the May 14, 2020 state impact
5 article, Hillary Hull, senior manager for research and
6 analytics for the Environmental Defense Fund, said
7 that companies reported the emissions less because
8 it’s determined by EPA’s devised formulas which
9 estlm ate how much a gas well will leak based on what
10 kind of equipment the company is using. It doesn’t
11 account for leaks from malfunctions and abnormal
12 processes, which emit most of the industry’s methane.
13 such leaks are unpredictable. There
14 should be no reduction in the erequency of inspections
15 in the regulation to limit climate warming methane
15 pollution from oil and gas operations. For example,
17 u.s. News reported on September 24th, 2017 the Harmony
18 Compressor Station in Susauehanna County leaked more
19 than 200 tons of methane in two hours on September
20 2nd, 2017. An average compressor spews out less than
21 half that amount in a year. The compressor operator
22 did not notify the county emergency management agency
23 since it was considered a small leak, and there was no
24 state investigation because — because a permit at that
25 time for a compressor station did not cover methane
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
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Jonathan L
Associated
division of
located in H
association
and oil indu
and nearly e
more than 60
energy and a
Thank you
than Lutz.
t1s. Farb.
Do we nave
Go ahead
is
C
a
are
ural gas
.S. jobs
API’s
ion’ S
movement
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—89DB
118
we
than
have number 36 Jona
on the line?
MR. LUTZ: I’m here.
MS. SHIRLEY: Hi, Jonathan.
emissions.
In conclusion, I’m asking the DEP to
have all gas and all operations regulated, and the
frequency of inspections not reduced. By doing so, it
will help Governor Wolf’s climate goals to reduce
Pennsylvania’s greenhouse gas emissions SD percent by
205D, and thus mitigate the effects of climate change
in Pennsylvania. Thank you.
MS. SHIRLEY:
Next
Jona
and begin your testimony.
MR. LUTZ: Good evening. 1y name
utz. : an the Associate Director of th
Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania,
the American Petroleum Institute. We
arrisburg, Pennsylvania.
API is the only national trade
representing all facets of the nat
stry which supports 10.3 million U
ight percent of the U.S. economy.
D members provide most of the nat
re backed by a growing grassroots
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17
18
19
20
21
23
24
25
organization.
development of
and operating
the industry’s
drill bits to
proven, sound
safe, intercha
delivery of th
petroleum
standards
collective
environmenta
engineering
ngeable equi
is important
API mair,ta
wisdom on
1 protect
and opera
pment and
resource
ins more
1any of
of millions of Americans
For over 90
119
API is also a standard setting
years, API has led the
and petrochemical equipment
These standards represent
a rds
everything from
ion, and embrace
ting practices and
materials for
to our nation
than 700 stand
these are
state and federal regulations. API
in the development of
and recommended practices.
incorporated into
encourages and participates
stat
are
envi
e regulations and other regulatory documents that
protective of public health and safety, the
ronment and the industry workforce.
In this context, API PA is happy to
the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
to reduce emissions from natural gas and
to point cut that our
efforts to reduce methane
work with
Protection
oil sources. I also want
industry has been leading
and greenhouse gas emissions as well.
Industry established initiatives
the environmental partnership are demonstrated,
like
action
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1 — action oriented, cost effective approaches to
2 reducing emissions of methane and volatile organic
3 compounds across the industry. This collaboration,
4 now in its third year, includes 83 members with 36 of
5 the top 40 u.s. producers of natural gas where
6 partners share expertise and technologies in a
7 voluntary effort to reduce emissions from our
8 operations.
9 In these efforts — and efforts like
10 these are working. According to the EPA’s latest
11 greenhouse gas inventory, overall methane emissions
12 from petroleum and natural gas systems declined 23
13 percent between 1990 and 2018, even as U.S. natural
14 gas production increased more than 70 percent over
15 this same period. Accordingly, our industry has been
16 delivering climate solutions while also providing
17 energy that powers economies and raises standards of
18 living as we continue to support well designed
19 policies to address the risks of climate change and
20 other — and further innovations to reduce greenhouse
21 gases.
22 Through new technologies, innovation,
23 and well designed policies to address the risks of
24 climate change, we can continue to safely and smartly
25 harness U.S. energy reserves which will help power our
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1 nation’s economic comeback and make American lives
2 better while lowering emissions. Therefore, we
3 appreciate the Department’s efforts injecting this
4 rulemaking and we look forward to working with DEP to
5 improve upon this measure in areas where we have
6 questions and concerns.
7 For example, while we are — while we
8 are encouraged by the Department’s step—down with
9 regard to LiDAR frequency for well sties that show low
10 leak rates, questions remain with respect to
11 inspection frequencies across the plan. And although
12 we understand the importance of inspections, some
13 appear to have no environmental benefit or could even
14 result in an increase in VOC emissions. In this
15 respect, we believe that for existing well sites
16 subject to this rulemaking, LiDAR inspection
17 frequencies should be less frequent, allowing further
18 step—downs for low leak rate sites which would be
19 appropriate.
20 It should also be noted that the
21 regulation does not distinguish between wet and dry
22 gas, which are found in different regions across the
23 Commonwealth. Dry gas could be exempted from these
24 requirements as its VOC content is below the limit
25 sought in this rulemaking. If exempted, this — this
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1 proposed regulation would avoid introducing
2 significant cost to both the Deoartment and the
3 regulatinD community with no associated reduction in
4 VOC emissions.
5 F:nally, EPA noted :n the proposed CTG
6 withdrawal that EPA is currently looking broadly at
7 the 2016 new source performance standards. In light
or tne fact that PA s reconsioering tnese standaros,
9 and because the recommendations made in the CTG are
10 fundamentally linked to the conclusions in the 2016
11 standards, the EPA believes it is prudent to withdraw
12 the CTG in its entirety. API agrees with the EPA and
13 submitted some suggestive comments on the proposed CTG
14 withdrawal, that, if not withdrawn, support further
15 changes to reflect what emissions controls are
16 appropriate for existing oil and natural gas industry
17 sources. The NSPS rule is that the Office of
18 Manacement and Budget now, and is expected this summer
— the PAVB should allow these — the reccnsideration of
20 the new port — new source performance standard and any
21 subsequent changes to the CTG is to inform DEP’s
22 efforts.
23 As natural gas croducers, we have an
24 economic incentive to reduce waste and limit emissions
25 of the product we sell, and we support sound policies
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1 in this same regard. Accordingly —.
2 MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Jonathan.
3 Well — we’ll read the rest of your comment. If you
4 could just make sure that it’s submitted in writing,
5 we’ll — we’ll make sure that we read them and respond
6 to them.
7 Next on the list, we have number 37
8 Patrick Henderson. Do we have Patrick on the line?
9 MR. HENDERSON: Yes, I’m here.
‘10 MS. SHIRLEY: Hi, Patrick. Go ahead
11 and begin.
12 MR. HENDERSON: Thank you. Good
13 evening, and thank you for the opportunity to provide
14 comments at today’s virtual hearing. My name is
15 Patrick Henderson, and I am presenting this testimony
16 on behalf of the Marcellus Shale Coalition. My
17 address is 300 North 2nd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.
18 The MSC was formed in 2008 and
19 represents the leading operators that are active in
20 Pennsylvania’s unconventional natural gas industry as
21 well as the supply consultants and professional
22 service companies that partner with the industry. The
23 MSC appreciates the opportunity to participate in this
24 hearing. We will have prepared detailed comments for
25 review and consideration by the Department prior to
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1
4
5
0
7
e
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
the conclusion of the public comment period.
Pennsylvania’s shale gas industry
ta:Kes seriously its responsibility to operate safely
and efficiently, and prides itself in going above and
beyond federal and state environmental standards.
After all, our employees live in our local communities
and have a vested interest in assuring that our water,
land and air rescurces are protected and enhanced.
Natural gas operators are rightfully proud of their
contribution to reducing climate change and reducing
emissions, and have led the way through their
participation and initiative such as One Future, API
and the environmental partnership, the U.S. EPA’s
methane challenge and the Global Methane Emission to
name a few.
Nearly two thirds of MSC board members
participate in one or more of these initiatives.
These orotrams come at a time when national croduction
of natural gas has increased to historic levels,
reducing our dependence on foreign sources of energy
and providing critica reed stock necessary for
consumer and medical goods, such as those needed to
respond to the current global pandemic.
As the Department ant puol:c consider
this proposed rulemaking, it’s critically important to
125
Conside
natural
methane
Pennsylv
from nat
percent
since 2
here in
generati
respecti
r the following: compared
gas production is up 50
emission rate has decli
ania, the percentage of
ural gas has increased f
per thousand to at least
005, the early advent of
Pennsylvania.
Volatile
power gen
Since 20
emi S si on
on sector have dec
vely.
to 1990, domestic
percent while the
ned by 43 percent. In
eleatricity generated
rom approximately one
40 percent today
shale gas development
declined
nd
power
do so with an accurate context of the contribution
natural gas had made to enhancing air quality.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Pennsylvania ‘ s
by 33 percent.
nitrogen oxide
organic compounds in
eration sector have
05, sulfur dioxide a
from Pennsylvania’s
lined by 93 and 80 percent,
Finally, from 2010 through 2017,
carbon dioxide emissions from Pennsylvania’s power
generation sector have •declined by 36 percent, far
surpassing the goals laid out in both Governor Wolf’s
Executive Order as well as the Paris Climate
Agreement.
These reductions of VOCs, sulfur
dioxide, NOx and carbon dioxide largely are
attributing to the increased use of natural gas. As a
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ult, Pennsylvania’s air is cleaner than has been
cc the dawn of the industrial revolution.
usands of lives have been saved, and the health
usands of more enhanced due to increased air
lity.
res
sin
Tho
thc
qua
thi
the
con
nat
126
or
As the
s rulemaking, we en
Se benefits and fos
tinued development
ural resources.
Department
courage all
ter policie
and use of
moves forward with
oarties to recognize
s to encourage the
Pennsylvania’s
1
2
4
5
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
In closing, I urge the Department to
base its decision making on facts, not unsubstantiated
allegations that misrepresent the reality of shale gas
development, and in doing so indict the integrity and
good will of their neighbors in enhancement of a
misplaced perspective. Thank you.
MS. SHIRLEY: Okay.
Thank you, Patric<. Next on the list,
we have Maurice K. Sampson, II. Do we have Maurice on
the line?
MR. SAMPSON:
MS. SHIRLEY:
MR. SAMPSON
name
Lane
is Maurice
in Philade
_____________
Yes, I’m here.
____________
e1lo. You car. begin.
____________
Thank you, Jessica. My
Samoson. : live at 129 West Gorgas
iphia, Pennsylvania. I’m here to offer
127
1 testimony as a private citizen in favor of the
2 proposed rules to reduce methane and volatile organic
3 compound pollution of existing oil and gas sources.
4 I’m concerned about the loopholes in
5 the rule that would effectively miss 50 percent of the
6 methane emissions at the targeted facilities. The
7 rule is to he — is to meaningfully address the climate
S crisis and meet Pennsylvania’s commitment cc cut
9 methane. The rule needs to address two shortcomings.
10 First, it needs to include, not
11 exempt, low producing oil and gas wells. These wells
12 contribute more than half of the methane emissions in
13 Pennsylvania, and they understand the rule as written
14 would mean that fewer than one percent of the wells
15 would even meet the inspection requirements. This
16 undermines the intent of the rule, and it’s simply not
17 acceptable.
18 Second, : would ask that you eliminate
19 the part of the draft rule allowing oil and gas
20 operators to reduce the frequency of inspections if
21 previous inspections do not reveal significant methane
22 leaks. Four inspections a year is simply inadequate
23 to track unpredictable, fugitive emissions nor is the
24 size an indicator of how much methane any given
25 facility will produce. All facilities should be
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1
2
3
£
5
0
7
9
10
and equity does not mean the
health equally among our bla
children. Or that we should
industry exceptions based on
wellbeing of our families.
Pennsylvania lies with our c
industries whose fortunes re
lives. There is much more w
here. Close the loopholes,
Thank you very much.
Next we have Sheila Dattilo.
215. DATTILO:
Go ahead.
MS. S?ERLEY:
t we should sacrifice the
ck, brown and white
grant the petroleum
cost in exchange for the
The future for
hildren and not in any
quire shortening their
e can do, but let’s start
and adopt these rules.
128
inspected, and the inspections should be more, not
less, frequent.
As a resident of Philadelphia and a
member or that city’s biac and brown community, ± am
struck by the similarities and the proximity of the
shale equinen: to the Caucasian residents ir. rural
Pennsylvania of those black and brown resider.:s whose
neighbor would now snutter rerineries in uroan soutn
Philadelphia.
Environmental justite is not served
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
-Q
20
LI
22
Li
24
25
‘1S. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Mr. Sampson.
Do we have Sheila on?
Yes. Can you hear me?
Yep, we can hear you.
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1 MS. DATTILO: Thank you. My name is
2 Sheila Dattilo. I reside at 408 :ndecendence lane,
3 Freedom, PA in Economy Borough, Seaver County. I’ve
4 been a resident of Beaver County since 1985 when I
5 purchased a home in Hooewell Township. In 2005, I
6 moved to Economy Borough.
7 I’m testifying about this rule for
B several reasons. I hold a Master of education degree
9 in environmental education from Slippery Rock, and I
10 recently retired from the North Allegheny School
11 District where I was a science teacher for 27 years.
12 So I have a more than basic understanding of
13 ecological systems in Western Pennsylvania. I
14 understand that there is a delicate balance that must
15 be maintained for any system to function at its peak.
16 We can all agree that our climate is
17 out of balance, causing considerable changes to the
18 weather patterns, as well as the flora and fauna of
19 western PA. Of course I am concerned about the
20 climate crisis, but I am even more concerned about the
21 public health impacts of the natural gas industry.
22 This imbalance is leading to increased risk for
23 disease in humans, including cancers and asthma.
24 In 2010, at the age of 51, 1 was
25 diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.
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1 After my surgery, it was discovered that the cancer
2 had already traveled to my lymph nodes and dozens of
3 nodes had to be removed. I underwent 16 chemotherapy
4 sessions and 31 radiation treatments. Further tests
S on my tumor indicate that I am at hiah risk for cancer
6 recurrence.
7 :‘m concerned that n-v corner of PA is
8 becoming a hub for the petrochemical industry, and I
9 don’t like it. I fought hard to get through those
10 years of cancer treatment so that I could continue to
11 be well and healthy for my two children, my two
12 stepchildren, my husband, and my students. I need you
13 to fight hard equally — equally hard, on my behalf to
14 keep my air and water clean.
15 I now have an additional reason to
16 stay healthy, and that is my 15 month old grandson
17 Teddy, who I care for three days a week. He is the
18 light of my life. His dad suffers from asthma, which
19 I fear Teddy may inherit. The air quality index shows
20 that the Greater Pittsburgh region is rated as not
21 good on 229 out of 365 days. And if you live in
22 Beaver County, the air you breathe outs your health as
23 risk.
24 As mentioned, the ?.merican Lung
25 Association gave Beaver County an F for ozone. Ozone
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includes a loophole
responsible for abo
contributes to Penn
these low prod cing
percent of the meth
that this oophole
u
1
1
4
c
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
:8
—
20
21
22
24
25
1
is harmful to lung health. Residents in our region
already suffer hiaher than average rates of cancer,
cardiovascular disease, upper resoiratory disease and
other conditions that made us amona the nations’ most
vulnerable to adverse health consequences from these
substances
ty concern is that the draft rule
ow producing wells that are
f the emissions that
ia’s methane problem. If
are responsible for SD
, then it’s imperative
ye read, that
respons ible
it’s important
Pennsylvania
r. That can ony
dustry to the
ulations and
DEE to protect
o clean air and
proposed
wells from the
repair.
for 1
ut hal
sylvan
wells
ane emissions
be addressed.
I suspect from what I’
the oil and gas industry is not being
stewards of our environment. I think
to take every precaution to make sure
citizens can enjoy clean air and wate
be accomplished by holding the gas in
highest of standards using strict reg
consistent oversight. I’m asking the
Pennsylvanta’s constitutional rignt t
water by closing the loophole in the
rulemaking that exempts low producing
rule’s leak detention — detection and
132
As a science teacher, I didn’t stop
monitoring my students’ academic success if they got
an A on one test. It was my responsible to do —
responsibility to do continuous checks for
understanding. Please ensure this proposal includes
requirements for all emission sources covered in DEP’s
already adopted standards for new oil and gas
resources. I an relying on you to protect my
environment and my health. Thank you.
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Ms. Dattilo.
Next we have Bryn Hammarstrom. Do we have Bryn on the
line?
This is Bryn.MR. HAMMARSTROM:
MS. SHIRLEY: Hi
MR. HAMMARSTROM:
MS. SHIRLEY: Yep
MR. HAMMARSTROM:
_____________
Bryn
__________________
Can hear
_____________
we hear
__________________
Okay. Okay.
Bryn Hammarstrom, 39 Chatham Valley
Lane, Middlebury Center, Pennsylvania. That’s in
Tioga County. I’ve lived here for almost 50 years.
moved up as a z4 year ole — tn 197i. Ano lam
dsapooznted in the changes brought to my county
as it was acout to ce called the Pennsyivania Wt
: guess che opportunity for the state to have a
industry was too good for Ed Rendell to resist,
1
2
£
5
C
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
you
can
me?
you.
I
just
lds
dirty
and we
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133
1 auctioned off some of our state forest land. And —
2 and the benefit to the rich, and the large landowners,
3 and the international and national big oil, gas and —
4 gas conpanies, Shell and Seneca and so on —. And the
5 local people are paying the price.
6 I’ve worked on the environment — as an
7 environmental activist for many years. I’m a retired
8 RN. Worked 30 years in Philadelphia driving from
9 Tioga County, and doing long shifts in — over
10 weekends. And I just reactivated my license under
11 Governor Wolf and have gone back to work in a hospital
12 in Philadelphia to lend a hand in this COVID—19 virus
13 pandemic.
14 So I’m concerned about — just it’s
15 interesting that I’m following two apologists for the
16 oil and gas industry. Just reading some headlines
17 that I just Googled, this was a couple years old, but
18 Penn State University Extension, 3 million abandoned
19 wells in the United States, 750,000 in Pennsylvania
20 alone. And we know it’s higher than that. The
21 wildcatters, the independent guys, were — were just
22 putting wells down wherever they wanted. There was no
23 regulation, there was no capping. Local environmental
24 groups have capped some of the wells in the Pine Creek
25 Watershed to try and clean up Pine Creek, which is a
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high quality or exceptiona
through Tioga State Forest
Canyon.
134
1 quality trout stream going
and the Pennsylvania Grand
ago
we —
to
jus
wel
obv
but
a special
ls are leaki
an industry
t this week.
is pose envi
iousiy, it’s
they — they
at Reuters, just a
liions of abandoned
a climate menace.
Insurance Journal,
of abandoned cii an
Or we look
report. ?1i
rig methane,
group, the
M ill ions
ronmental,
a money ri
put it in
wee k
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Or we go
6/23/20,
d gas
hea
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ad
lth ri
to the
i ffe re
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15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
back, you know, back to April, U.S.
Report, Pennsylvania faces new wave
and gas wells.
We’ve heard all the
and we’ve heard the apologists for
industry. We have to make a choice
a choice on behalf of the citizens
are guaranteed, by constitution, a
and clean water. And between just
the U.S. News ant World Report. Be
2O9, two companies abandoned almos
and around Allegheny National Fores
from cleanup resonsibility that to
tens of millions of dollars.
sks. Well.
Insurance Journal,
nt way. Or we go
News and World
of abandoned oil
comments,
and gas
have to
nsylvani
— clean
this w
2016 an
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public
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ay
state
135
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
You have an obligation as — as
officers of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to act on
the behalf of the citizens. And I demand that the —
that the — that all the requests that most of us have
made, that there be no loophole for low prcducng
wells. I can take you any time, any of you want to
come up, and drive along Route 6 and show you where
local activists, Paul Otruba from Mansfield, formerly
the water — water keeper for the Tioga River, or Lori
Barr, an activist in Coudersport, Pennsylvania, can
show you abandoned, leaking, methane leaking wells
along the Tioga River and Pine Creek, and also of
course, the Allegheny River, which has its headwaters
in Potter County, just west of us in Tioga County.
We need frequent and regular
inspections —.
MS. SHIRLEY:
1
2
3
4
n
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
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17
18
19
20
21
22
23
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25
Thank you very
If you could p1
will make sure
have a chance t
much. You
ease send
that we —
o get to.
Thank you — thank you.
— your five minutes is up.
us your written testimony, we
we read whatever you didn’t
MP.HAMMARSTROX: Right on, thank you.
MS. SHRLEY: Next up we have — thank
you. Next up, we have number 41 Thomas Hoffman. Do
we have Mr. Hoffman on the line?
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908
MR. HOFFMAN:
MS. SHIRLEY:
MR. HOFFMAN:
136
Yes, I’m here.
Hi, Mr .Hoffman.
ahead.
Hoffman.
Breeze ne
I live at
ighbcrhood
So I
711
of
cc’s
Go
Point
name ‘ 5
reet in
So my
5 Willard St
?ittsbrgh.
get into it.
Tom
the
and it’s only half done
What a year,
economic ccl lapse,
—19, urgent war
only six months
te catastrophe,
rown people. B
recently millio
ring that black
1
2
2
4
S
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
COVI D
have
c 1 ima
and b
seen
decla
just
demon
nings
to ma
polic
ut on
ns of
lives
But these
g chan
pand
at we may
before a
t black
we’ve
street s,
We’ve had
from scientists th
ke drastic changes
e injustice agains
the positive side,
people take to the
matter.
demonstrations have
ges in — in policing
emic are challenging
beyond d
strators
emandin
and the
gone
The
us as a
ing. I
no way
nation to rethink how we do just about everyth
saw a recent post on Facebook. Whoa, there’s
we can shut everything down in order to lower
emissions, slow climate change, and protect the
environment. Mother Nature. Here’s a virus,
practice.
Sc apparently, it is possible to take
the warnings about emissions seriously if you want to.
Now there is no question that a pandemic is not the
preferred way to deal with climate change. The harm
it has visited on regular Americans, especially low
income black and brown Americans, is unacceptable. As
we dig our way out of the crisis, we need to make sire
that the folks who are hurting the most are prc:ected
and made whole. It is no coincidence that those folks
are the same folks that have been and will continue to
bear the brunt of the impending climate chaos.
So in order to look at the decision
you’re faced with in a much broader context than just
a narrow regulatory decision on a protective rule on
methane and VOCs, which is critically important for
sure, but rather, think about those demonstrations in
the street asking us to do things differently in a big
way, that protects the health of all Pennsylvanians.
So think big.
There are two very specific steps you
can take as a start, and include inspections and
repairs of wells roducing lower amounts of oil and
natural gas, and eliminate the part of the draft rule
that allows gas operators to reduce the frecuency of
inspections if previous inspections do not reveal
significant methane leaks.
137
1
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-3
5
0
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22
23
24
25 So these are important. You need to
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do these two steps, but
about how
to make a
this
bette
I coul
y near m
months -
been en
in 1980
C eme t e r
winter
there ‘s
winters.
to see all
are dying
138
remember. Think big. Think
could be a first step to change things,
r Pennsylvania for everyone.
And when I first moved to Pittsburgh
d cross country ski at home in a
y house just about every night in the
And I can count on one hand the nights
ough snow in the last two or three
I take my morning walk, I’m horrified
trees, especially my favorite oak, that
and climate change.
When
the
1
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-S
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because of disease
So there’s not really a
end of the tunnel. It’s a train that’s
at us. So again, please think big when
final rule. Thankyc’ very much.
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you,
light at the
headed right
you make your
Mr. Hoffman.
Next
able
we h
up — h
to get
ave Ann
ow
to
on
many
eve
the
MR.
more do
rybody.
line?
we have?
Number 42,
Okay,
Ann
we might
McStay.
be
Do
Jessica.
what you said?
JAGIELA
MS. SHIRLEY:
No, she went through,
She
MR.
was — she
JAG I E LA:
She’s
was —
Yeah,
0 k a y,KS. SHIRLEY:
not on? Is that
that’s right.
she was here.
thank you.
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health and the
• The current
he r connection
on w rsens heart and
ions are also tied to
one of the safest pla
d be outside, we put
of the worst air poll
al h and safety,
Number 43, Christine Smerker.
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Do we
SKERKER: Yes, I’m here.
SHIRLEY: All right.
Christine. Go ahead
have Christine?
x S
____________
MS
____________
Hi,
your testimony.
YiS. SMERKER:
Thank ycu for
as a private citizen and conc
young children. I’m speaking
Brooke Court. That’s in
north of Pittsburgh.
and begir.
All
the
e me
to
right.
opportunity to speak
d mother of three
you from 1609 valley
Wexford, Pennsylvania just
1
environment
COvID—1 9
0
And public
are not mutually exclusive
pandemic has highlighted t
specifically. Air polluti
ailments, and these condit
outcomes. :n a time when
our children to play shoul
risk in a state with some
in the nation. For our ne
Pennsylvanians need the DEP to fina
existing methane ruse that protects
Pennsylvanians and our enviror.m.ent.
Pennsylvania is the
lung
core
ces for
them at
ution
L
lize
the
a strong
health of
third largest
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greenhouse gas polluting state in the nation and is
the second largest gas producin state in the country.
As a resident of Allegheny County, a region the
American Lung Association gives a failing grade for
our air quality, common sense standards that cut
narnru_ alr and metnar.e pollution are important to fly
family s wellbeing and the health of my community.
And I’d like to also point out in
response to the industry, that our air quality in
Pennsylvania has never been better, in many of our
regions, it still fails and failing is not good
enough. All Pennsylvanians have a constitutional
right to breathe clean air and access to it should not
be dependent upon our ZIP Code.
I will skip my comments in just a
minute on methane. I think we’ve covered what a
danger it is. And the dangers that the oil and the
gas operations present highlight the critical need for
then to he strongly regulated, which includes closing
the loophole draft rule for low producing wells that
are responsible for more than half of the methane
pollution from oil and gas sources in the state.
The provision that allows operators
to reduce the frequency of inspections based on
previous inspections not revealing leaks should also
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be eliminated. Large, uncontrolled leaks can happen
at any time and can only be detected with regular
inspections
In order to ensure that Pennsylvania
is an attractive place to live and do business, we
need to further our work and clean our air. The
majority of Pennsylvanians support action on
addressing climate change. Let us work together to
make Pennsylvania a leader in addressing climate
change and protecting the health and wellbeing of all
of our citizens. Thank you for your time.
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Christine.
Next up, we man.
_____________
Yep.
_____________
All righc, go ahead
Breana.
MS. HASHMAN: All right.
My name is Breana Hashman, and I live
at 4230 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia. I have a
Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in geoscience with nine
years of research experience. My expertise is
studying how life and earth interact together to
create environmental change on a planet wide scale.
I’m here today to say that regulating
VOC leaks from existing fossil fuel infrastructure is
have Breana Hash
MS. HASHMAN:
MS. SHIRLEY:
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1 a necessary step we rust take, but the proposed
2 regulations don’t go far enough in preventing needless
3 emissions of the strong greenhouse gas, methane.
4 When i firs: learned about natural
5 production back in 2009, research suggested this fuel
6 source could release 50 to 60 percent less carbon
7 dioxide than coal. I’ll admit that the climate
8 implications of this figure made me pro—natural gas at
9 that time. Nearly a decade later, when I transitioned
10 from academia to environmental advocacy, my
11 perspective changed after seeing how the research had
12 changed and evolved.
13 While burning natural gas does produce
14 less carbon dioxide than burning coal, there are also
15 significant emissions of the stronger greenhouse gas,
16 methane that leaks from upstream infrastructure. In
17 terms of global warming potential, these methane leaks
18 make natural gas no cleaner than coal. This won’t
19 change until these fugitive methane emissions from the
20 fossil fuel industry are adequately addressed.
21 Treating methane emissions as a
22 co—benefit of VOC reduction allows a significantly
23 more preventable methane emissions to occur. The
24 Marcellus Shale has much higher methane levels
25 relative to VOCs compared to other fossil fuels. This
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this proposed
percent of all
If you accept
decisions bas
stands today,
that will res
emissions fro
producti
climate
for ener
fuel our
generate
global w
society.
wells in our state.
he research
tory loopholes
s methane
143
rule says significant methane can be released before
VOC levels are high enough to trigger corrective
action.
Second, the proposed regulations
exclude the low producing oil and natural gas wells,
which
me than
can also be
e emissions
a significant source of fugitive
By excluding low producing wells,
regulation would only apply to 0.004
conventional gas
climate science and want to make
ed on the — on the way t
you cannot allow regula
ult in outdated, needles
m leaking infrastructure.
Industry has justified the continued
fossil fuel despite grave risks to
ublic health by insisting we need them
But methane leaks are waste. They don’t
create jobs, they don’t
accelerate the rate of
on of
and p
gy.
society
profit.
they
They
arming without
don’t
only
providing any benefit to
Our earth’s climate is regulated by a
delicately calibrated system between our earth and the
biosphere that has evolved over billions of years.
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1 The systems can’t adequately adjust for rapid change,
2 and the climate system is no exception. Geologic
3 history tells us that when greenhouse gas emissions
4 and temperatures rise at an abnormally fast rate, the
5 earth system struggle to adjust, resulting in extreme
6 climate anomalies.
7 We are warming our planet faster today
8 than at any other point in earth’s history. The one
9 time in earth’s history that comes close to modern
10 recent warming was during a period that geologists
11 call the great dying where over 90 percent of species
12 on earth went extinct, and the equatorial regions of
13 the planet were uninhabitable.
14 Methane emissions in current times
15 are playing a significant role in our accelerated rate
16 of warming. In the most recent 29CC special report,
17 it asserts that reducing methane emissions is key to
19 avoiding the worst effects of climate change.
:9 Every preventable measure should be
20 taken to reduce methane emissions associated with this
21 industry, which includes regular inspections of
22 infrastructure for leaks, directly addressing methane
2i _ea<s along with VOCs, ann including all oil ana gas
24 wells, no matter how productive they are. If we
25 really want to continue fossil fuel production despite
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xs TERWIILIGER:
MS. SHIRLEY: 5cr
MS. TERWILLIGER:
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catastrophic climate change, the least we can do is
ensure that every step is taken to reduce wasteful and
preventable methane emissions from this industry.
Thank you.
MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Ms. Hashman.
There, I did it again. I forgot to unmute myself.
Only two times so far tonight. Do we have number 45,
Phyllis Terwilliger on?
Yes.
ry, okay. Go ahead.
That’s all right.
Phyllis Terwilliger, 777 Country Club Road, York.
Digging in dirt, building a
sandcastle, riding a bicycle, sliding, climbing,
swimming, running, jumping, all the while breathing.
At birch, we take our first breath, a bellowing cry
that announces here I am. Dying of black lung from
working in the anthracite mines near Erackville,
Pennsylvania, my grandfather took his last breath.
And now, while breathing, we testify for the control
of VOC emissions.
Natural gas has been touted as clean
energy, but methane, the principal component in
r.atural gas and other toxic pollutants, leaks through
the supply chain from extraction to consumption.
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responsibilit
caretakers of
protection an
with the oil
y as r
God s
d safeg
and gas
There
V4ethane is a greenhouse gas that contributes to
climate change, and has been implicated in health
risks.
speak as a resident of the
Susquehanna Watershed, a mother, a United Methodist
woman, climate justice advocate and an elementary
teacher. It is not acceptable to allow natural gas
pollution from oil rigs, fracking sites, compression
stations and pipelines to contaminate our children’s
air and drinking water.
impacts
children
Children suffer most from the
of this pollution. Since approximate
in Pennsylvania live within one mile
permitted fracking
health
ly 53,000
of a
site, we have a moral
r.nsylvania to be
to demand strong
llution associated
the
the
the
esidents of Pa
creation and
uards from po
industry.
fore, since DEP’s mission places
on public health and safety, I urge
make the following improvements to
Number one, close the loophole
highest v
Depa rtmen
proposed
alue
t to
rule.
that exempts low producing
24
25
wells from
inspection requirements. Number two, eliminate the
provision that allows operators to reduce the
the rule’s leak
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1 frequency of inspections if previous inspections
2 reveal that only a small percentaae oi components is
3 leaking - Frequent and regular inspections should be
4 required. And number three, ensure this proposal
5 includes recuirements for all emission sources covered
6 in DEP’s already adopted standards for new oil and gas
7 sources.
S Still breaching. As a child, being
9 outdoors made me feel close to God. It still does.
1D Children’s understanding of God is strongly shaped by
11 their experience of creation. If the air is polluted
12 when children are playing outside, their health and
13 wellbeing will be compromised. Their sense of awe and
14 imagination will be compromised. Consequently, their
15 experience of God will be compromised.
16 If the Pennsylvania Department of
17 Environmental Protection and the residents of
16 Pennsylvania work together making mud pies or
19 gardening can be healthy. And maybe, just maybe,
2D playing outside will connect us to the creator of this
21 amazing none we call planet earth. As long as we have
22 breath, let’s work toward a just transition to 100
23 percent renewable enerov in Pennsvlvar. ia. Thank you.
24 MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Phyllis. How
25 many more do we — we have Lais Santoro on the line?
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I’ve lived in Ches
recently turned 19
studying Public He
here to talk about
Pennsylvania’s air
to lead to support
today.
where I’m f
solidarity
that have c
regulations
especially
Lais Santoro?
148
Can
0
you hear me?MS. SANTORO: Yes.
MS. SHIRLEY: Yep, g ahead.
MS. SANTORO: Hello. ‘F
so much for the opportunity to speak.
Santoro. I live at 1303 Harness Lane i
County. I’m speaking on behalf of Zero
international youth organization that i
meaningful and intellectual discussions
change and fighting for climate justice
hank you
My name
n Chest
Hour,
again
is Lais
er
an
w 0 r 1 d
s having
on climate
around the
a
ter
a
lt
me.
qual
the
And I — so yeah, my name is Lais.
County for most of my life.
nd now I attend Johns Hockins
h Environmental Studies. I’m not
I’m here to talk about
ity, my home, and how we need
rule that is being discussed
It doesn’t matter where I live or
rom. It matters that I’m able to sha
and suopor: to our frontline communit
een most inpacted by these environmen
and toxic air pollution in our state,
for Pennsylvania’s young people.
re
les
tal
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I have a seven year old brother I
taught some lessons for four years all throughout
school. : now mentor narginalized high schoolers
the college application process, and I’m a climate
justice organizer with several youth—led
orgar.izations. So yeah, you can say that I really
care about young peoole and our future.
And recently during CQVI0—l9, the
Trump administration has been bailing out polluting
high
in
those of the like that produce greenhouses
methane and VOCs. And this pandemic, which
by a respiratory disease, has not — has
ionally impacted communities that live near
industries which is black, brown, low income
s. In fact, in Pennsylvania alone, 1.5
ople live within a half of oil and gas
according to an expert map about oil and
n 5 v 1 v a n i a.
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industries
gases like
is caused
disproport
polluting
communitie
million pe
industries
gas in Pen
on a
must
national
be somet
And the
scale to
hing that
to as well. Because we
these communities
attempts of the administration
roll back regulations and —
Pennsylvania does not connect
are definitely leaving behind
vulnerable and already
pollute — aire x t rem ely
pollution
that are most
impacted by
and now this
toxic air
pandemic
1
2
I
4
Wolf’s
Accord
and -
pan
s ma
pro
inc
or
a polluting in
shculdn’t even
seeing the wa
through rene
ildren’s air
Nonetheless,
of Environmental
ia’s families and
opportunity to ge
initiative and in
We cannot contin
rseeing the heal
of an environmen
d it does not ma
dustry. I woul
be talking abo
y that we power
wable resources
and lungs.
I’m here to urge the
Protection to put
children’s health first.
t closer to Governor
e with the Paris Climate,
to follow a modest profit
especially during a
health disease. It’s
sense. You’re not
inn the dangers of
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In Pennsylvania,
lamest, excuse me, natural gas
nation and third in greenhouse
committed to lead in this effo
emissions for
argue that we
emissions, but
and ccmmunitles
not harm our ch
as the second
producing state in the
as emissions, we’re
rt a ainst these
d even
ut reducing
our homes
that do
Department
Pennsylvan
We have an
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ove
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rt, an
tecting
reaszng
un
ue
th,
tal
ke
not
thi
-r
sp
pol
public heath by ignor
methane and VOC emissions.
This is still occurring in the midst
andemic, and temperatures are still rising in
lution is amcng the disrcportionate impacts,
ccmmunities chat have been hardest
We need to think about the
again, marginalized
— hit hardest by CDVID—19.
lower amounts of oil and natural gas.
ing wells are responsible for more
methane pollution from the oil and
Pennsylvania. And number two, I urge
o eliminate the part of this draft
oil and gas operators to reduce the
pections if — if previous inspections
gnificant methane leaks. Research
uncontrolled leaks are random, and
cted with frequent and regular
inspections
grateful to have had the
today and to show solidarity
mostly — most impacted by this.
who has shared their stories and
o how personal climate change
ally is. I thank you all for
aticn on this rule, and again
put the lives of young people
lead as a state in reducing our
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most vulnerable and lead in their interests, not in
the interests of greedy corporations that are worried
about their profit.
More specifically, I urge the
to, one, include inspections and repairs ofDepartment
wells producing
These low croduc
than half of the
gas industry in
the Department t
rule that allows
frequency of ins
do not reveal si
shows that large
can only be dete
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I’m so
ooportunitv to testify
and sucoort with those
Thank you to everyone
experiencing, and as t
and climate justice re
your time and consider
urge the Department to
in Pennsylvania and to
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emissions statewide,
are most impacted by
have a great nigh:.
and to
this.
MS. SHIRLEY:
I know we said we’d stop at 5
with us this long, I think we
going to push through. Do we
the line?
MR. JAGIELA:
the line any longer.
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What about Ka
MR. JAGIELA:
MS. SHIRLEY:
152
really think of those that
Thank you so much, and
Thank you, Ms. San:oro.
:00, but if you guys were
re going to — we’re
have Gregory Carvajal on
We do not have him on
Okay.
na McNamara?
We do not have her on
Okay.
sley Silva? I’ll give
He’s — he’s also jumped
You can’t find him?
Hi, I’m still here.
Hey. Finally — we
:, proceed. I will — I’ll
ahead.
Wha t about We
the line either
you
off the line.
Okay. Barbara
MR. JAC-IELA:
MS. SHIRLEY:
Cli
MS
fford?
CLIFFORD
MS. SHIRLEY:
finally found one. All righ
start your timer Barbara, go
153
1 YS. CLIFFCRD: This is Barbara
2 clifford calling, and I live in Montrose in
3 Susquehanna county. And I thank you for allowing me
4 to speak.
5 When I heard that the DEP was
6 proposing controls on voc emissions from oil and
7 natural gas sources, I felt the sense of relief that
8 finally, we might be getting some needed attention on
9 the unwanted changes in our air quality, and that the
10 public would have an opportunity to comment.
In Susquehanna county in Northeast
12 Pennsylvania, we are designated by the state as the
13 Endless Mountains Heritage Region and described
14 historically as an agricultural region- As a rural
15 area, we are vulneracle to the healtn e:rects of
16 emissions from the oil and gas industry, partly
17 because the state has so far not really done an
18 adequate job of regulating it. And because being in
19 the upstream part of the industrial process, we are
20 exposed to the greatest volume of unprocessed spikes
21 in the emissions, many of us, including myself, living
22 within a mile of the source.
23 Individual permits for compressor
24 stations and well pads do not adequately account for
25 the cumulative exposures to me, my family, and
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directly in the
acute hea
level ozo
health of
downwind
travel 20
exacerbat
common in o
emissions.
that showed
crow
and
cuse
to ground
ly the
ties
can
1
2
neighbors who
surrounded
live nearby. My family and I are
154
bvweill pads with increasing numbers of
wells, and a compressor station within, as the
flies, close to a mile to our homes and farm,
path of the prevailing winds
VOCs like benzene not only ac
lth issues, but are also precursors
ne. Ground level ozone risks not on
our community, but regional communi
of our county as ground level ozone
0 miles. Heart
ed by ozone pollution.
disease and emphysema is
I have always been healthy, take no
medications, eat and live a healthy life. But in
recent years, I have developed increasing heartbeat
irregularities, atrial fibrillation. On top of that,
I now have emphysema, COP0. It didn’t make sense to
me. How could it be hapoening? What is the cause?
Then I learned about the health impacts of ground
level ozone. Could it be possible that the oil and
gas pollution is the cause of my health conditions?
that AFIB has become soIt is alarming
ur area where we now have these chemical
There was a scientific medical study done
a chemical used by the industry that is a
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es in
155
trigger for AFIB. And a recent Binghamton University
study showing the death of four Pennsylvanians are
linked to pm 2.5 pollution during well preparation,
drilling and fracking.
There is anxiety here about oil and
gas emissions, and what you are proposing is very
important, and I really thank you. Climate change
causing extreme weather that is wreaking havoc to
world’s agriculture. And in turn, Pennsylvania’s
— food security with the Midwest and Western stat
peril of droughts and loss of land and mudslides,
Pennsylvania is a natural to invest in agriculture
again.
Our farm, like many others in this
area, has been in operation since the late 1800s.
Some with organic certification worry about these
climate change impacts in addition to air and water
pollution from the oil and gas industry. Rules like
this one, if done correctly, could reduce pollution
and help curb climate change.
I realize this sounds idealistic, but
we have to keep up, keep our hope alive in this crazy
world. To better protect my health and that of fly
children, grandchildren and great—grandchildren, and
reduce impacts from climate change on my farm and
156
1 others in Pennsylvania, I implore DEE to improve its
2 proposed rule by removing industry loopholes.
3 Please remove from the rule the
4 loophole that woula exempt _ow producing wel_s crom
5 leak detection and repair requirements. Also, DEP
6 should take out the provision that allows operators to
7 reduce the frequency of inspections if previous
8 inspections do not reveal significant methane leaks.
9 Last, DEP should include requirements for all emission
10 sources included in the already adopted standards for
11 new oil and gas sources, GP5 and GPS(a) . These
12 loopholes undermine the purpose of the control because
13 they allow half of the methane emissions to be emitted
14 — emitted from control.
15 And I just want to add one last thing
16 on the — where did I put it? Oh, on the exemption
17 from leak detection and repair regulation on low
18 oroducing wells. If you do that, you’ll eventually
19 have all our welis unprotected if they’re all exempt
20 because all our wells become low producing. So that
21 is the end. Thank you very much.
22 MS. SHIRLEY: Thank you very much.
23 Thank you, Barbara and thank you for — for hanging on
24 the line. It’s getting a little late. Do we have —
25 do we have Christina DiGiulio?
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1 MR. JAGIELA: No, we do not.
2 MS. SHIRLEY: Okay.
3 Wnat anout, last one, numDer 54, James
4 Coffey? Do we have James on?
MR. JAGIELA: We do.5
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S James.
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MR. COFFEY:
MS. SH:RLEY:
MR. COFFEY:
MS. SHIRLEY:
up for us.
MR. COFFEY:
All right,
me?
hear you.
____________
All right, very good.
Thank you for waiting. And, I’m a
resident of Green Lane, Pennsylvania. I’ve worked in
the oil field in Texas for eight years for a drilling
contractor. And I’ve seen firsthand what regulations
can prevent and what lack of regulation will allow in
the fossil fuel operations.
The fossil fuel industry is a dirty
business. The benefits are real, but so are the risks
and the costs. The fossil fuel industry has been
allowed to cause environmental degradation for years,
and that impact has always been treated as an
externality, or cost of doing business.
Well, who pays the cost? The citizens
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Can you hear
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who live in the environment
the cost. Reducing VOC emi
operations and wellheads wi
that surround those wellhea
communities that are downwi
help in reducing greenhouse a
to pass on a better world to o
grandchildren, we must protect
VOC emissions c
the bucket of the deep pockets
industry. We need to be
cleaner world
generation.
I just wanc
appreciate everyone for han
and taking the time out of
provide input on this really
All of the — the transcript
hearing will be sent to the
Review Commission, the — the
and energy committees, and
and all of the comments will
We also want
sure chat you email your wri
on to the next
Thank you. All
to say again, you
ging with us this
- of your busy da
important regul
from this virtua
Independent Regu
environmental r
he House and the
be responded to.
to remind you to
tten testimony to
rop in
gas
158
that has been degraded pay
ssions from drilling
11 protect the communities
ds as well as the
nd And they also
g s emissions. I
ur children and
it today.
ontrols are a d
of the oil and
will
f we want
moving forward towards a
so we can pass it
Thank you very much
MS. S-iIRLEY: right.
know, I
evening
y to
at ion.
1 public
latory
esources
Senate,
make
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posted to the Dep
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a rtme
time, with
to provide
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Laura provided those instruct
comments that are received a
nt’s website through our
our
top
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eComnent tool, i
public participa
to eComment and
that we — we’ve
several months.
that have been s
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accessibility
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tion at the
you can see
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ubmitted. So
out there for
And at this
— registered
website and click on
you can scroll down
of the regulations
on over the — the last
iew all of the comments
everything, you know, is
— for your
no ocher folks
testimony, Ileft to provide
adj ourn this EQB public hearing
* * * * *
HEARING CONCLUDED
* * * * *
at 9:13 p.m.
* * *
AT 9:15 P.M.
* * *
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CERTIF: CATE
I hereby certify that
reported by me
ascoigne, read c
this transcript
proceeding.
day of July, 2020
160
proceeding was
I, Alicia R. C
I attest that
record of the
Dated the 8th
the foregoing
on 06/25/2020 and that
his transcript and that
is a true and accurate
J 11Alicia R. GascoignJ,
Court Reporter
Sargent’s Court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908