The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has approved legislation introduced by Senator Scott Hutchinson that will protect and promote conventional oil production in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 1310, legislation to protect the conventional oil production industry from state regulations intended for companies extracting Marcellus Shale gas, now goes to the full Senate for consideration. “The conventional oil industry is an important part of the regional economy in northwestern Pennsylvania – an economy that is already struggling. It cannot afford to be stymied by excessive and unnecessary regulatory burdens,” said Senator Hutchinson. Senate Bill 1310, would establish the Penn Grade Crude Development Advisory Council, a panel empowered to study existing regulations and assist the Department of Environmental Protection in making changes that better address the differences between conventional and unconventional oil and gas production. “Technological advances that have all...