Gabler Supports Well Safety Legislation
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) today voted in committee to support legislation that would require all unconventional oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania to be assigned Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. Senate Bill 995, which was passed by the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, is now eligible for consideration by the full House.
“Marcellus Shale development has resulted in changes to the landscape that outdate conventional maps,” Gabler said. “This legislation allows us to keep pace with those changes and equip our emergency responders with the tools they need to protect our citizens and the workers on these sites.”
Senate Bill 995 requires the operator of each unconventional oil and gas well to adopt GPS coordinates at both the access road entrance and wellpad site. These coordinates along with the site address and emergency contact information must be posted at the entrance to each site. Operators must also develop an emergency response plan to be filed with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Environmental Protection, and local emergency management officials.
“I believe it is of vital importance that we ensure the ability of emergency responders and local officials to know where well sites are located, and empower them with the ability to respond in a timely fashion should the need arise,” added Gabler. “I am proud to support this commonsense legislation that further provides for the health, welfare and safety of the workers on these well sites as well as all of the residents of our region.”
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since 1947
“Marcellus Shale development has resulted in changes to the landscape that outdate conventional maps,” Gabler said. “This legislation allows us to keep pace with those changes and equip our emergency responders with the tools they need to protect our citizens and the workers on these sites.”
Senate Bill 995 requires the operator of each unconventional oil and gas well to adopt GPS coordinates at both the access road entrance and wellpad site. These coordinates along with the site address and emergency contact information must be posted at the entrance to each site. Operators must also develop an emergency response plan to be filed with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Environmental Protection, and local emergency management officials.
“I believe it is of vital importance that we ensure the ability of emergency responders and local officials to know where well sites are located, and empower them with the ability to respond in a timely fashion should the need arise,” added Gabler. “I am proud to support this commonsense legislation that further provides for the health, welfare and safety of the workers on these well sites as well as all of the residents of our region.”
The original news leader of the Twin Tiers ...since 1947
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