The article “Pa. gas drilling report criticizes industry for failing to report abandoned gas wells” (Jan. 5, TribLIVE) outlines a recent Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) report which found substantial noncompliance of state laws and regulations by the Pennsylvania conventional oil and gas industry with regard to the improper abandonment of conventional oil and gas wells and the failure to report drilling activity.
This noncompliance is not surprising because the DEP has been starved of enforcement resources for years.
The DEP’s Oil and Gas Program has oversight over the almost 80,000 Pennsylvania oil and gas wells now in production. In 2015, the DEP had 226 filled positions in its oil and gas program. Today it is down to 176. It simply needs more boots on the ground.
Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro’s upcoming budget proposal should fully fund DEP.
Rep. Greg Vitali
Havertown
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