DEP Takes Over Permitting Duties from Conservation Districts
Pennsylvania's conservation districts will no longer have sole authority in monitoring Marcellus Shale drilling.
The Department of Environmental Protection has issued a memo to the 66 county conservation districts across the state saying some of the responsibilities for reviewing erosion and sedimentation control permits for construction of well pads, pipe lines, and access roads for Marcellus Shale gas wells will be handed over to the DEP regional offices.
The memo says the change was an effort to streamline the process needed to get the wells up and running and to maximize efficiency.
Previously, the conservation districts had been reviewing the erosion and sedimentation control permits for sites that would have more than 5 acres of land disturbed by construction of the wells.
The Department of Environmental Protection has issued a memo to the 66 county conservation districts across the state saying some of the responsibilities for reviewing erosion and sedimentation control permits for construction of well pads, pipe lines, and access roads for Marcellus Shale gas wells will be handed over to the DEP regional offices.
The memo says the change was an effort to streamline the process needed to get the wells up and running and to maximize efficiency.
Previously, the conservation districts had been reviewing the erosion and sedimentation control permits for sites that would have more than 5 acres of land disturbed by construction of the wells.
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