32s( jul 212020 07-21...by laura perkins 94 — 96 by nora johnson 96 — 99 by corinne mayland 99...

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


3

1

2

3

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

13 By 39 — 43

14 By 43 — 45

15 By 46 — SO

16 By 50 — 54

17 By 54 — 57

18 By 57 — 61

19 By 62 — 65

20 By 66 — 63

21 By 69 71

22 By 72 — 73

23 By 73 — 77

24 By 78 — 80

25 By 80 — 82


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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7

B

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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

5

1 EXHIBITS

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3 Page Page

4 Number Description Offered Admitted

5 NONE OFFERED

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Policy

Protect

Quality

today,

Edinger

who many

Brian Ch

Director

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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


7

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


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give everyone

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ground rules:

upon the witnesse

at this hearing.

number indicating

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All who

the

25 order in which witnesses will be called upon to


8

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

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20

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ulatory amendments

u can visit eComment

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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.


10

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.


11

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.


12

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


the EQB and will be included in a comment and

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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


14

_____________

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


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

15

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


16

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


17

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.


18

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


20

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


21

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.


22


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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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

_____________

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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.

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idents in Upper

in Upper Derby f

in Philacelphia

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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


25

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.


26

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.


27

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


28

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


29

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


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


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


32

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


33


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


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


36

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


37

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


38

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


39

1

.5

A.3

0

0

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

:8

—

20

21

22

23

24

25


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


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,


43


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


1

2

L

S

0

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Li

23

24

25

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


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


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


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


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


50

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

II

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

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


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

1

2

4

5

C

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

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


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

52

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

B

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

±1

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

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


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


54

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

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


55

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

0

10

11

12

13

1’

15

17

18

-Q

20

21

22

23

24

25

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


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


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


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


59

1

2

3

4

S

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

19

20

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


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


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

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

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,


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


62

we have number 16, Thomas

Can you — can you hear

just want to verify

MR.

this is

HALAIRE:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

B

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

Yes.

Okay, great. : will

robust and growing

have headquarters

approximately 570

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

B

9

10

11

12

13

1L

ID

16

:7

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

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


64

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


65

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

55

tha

or

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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


66

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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


67


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

69

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


70

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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25 Pennsylvania, as already said, is the


71

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.


72


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


75

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


76

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


77

1

2

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5

0

7

8

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11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

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


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


79

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

14

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.


1

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

:2

13

I’

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

private citizen in

reduce methane and

the

fre

not

ust

the

for all

adopted


80

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, 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


82

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


83

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,


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


85

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


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


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

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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


99

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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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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91

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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M y

t at

it:s

rks


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

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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


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

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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


98

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.


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.


Thank you for giving me this

opoortunity to speak.

MS. SHIRLEY: Johnson.

Do we

1

not

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‘D1LL

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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


1

2

5

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

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

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


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

11

12

13

14

15

15

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

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



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

1

2

7

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13

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16

17

18

19

20

21

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23

24

25

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


22

23

24

25

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


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

1

2

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21 and ecological risks

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.


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


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


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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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


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


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.

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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

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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

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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


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


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


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


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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


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

2

4

5

6

7

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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


120

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


121

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


122

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


123

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



124

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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.

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2

3

4

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6

7

8

9

10

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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



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

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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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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

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LI

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Li

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‘1S. SHIRLEY: Thank you, Mr. Sampson.

Do we have Sheila on?


Yep, we can hear you.


129

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.


130

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



131

includes a loophole

responsible for abo

contributes to Penn

these low prod cing

percent of the meth

that this oophole

u

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—

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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,

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you

can

me?

you.

I

just

lds

dirty

and we


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



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

oil

Or we go

6/23/20,

d gas

hea

sk

ad

lth ri

to the

i ffe re

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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

0 wells

king aw

st the

public

the oil

You

of Pen

clean

2000 —

tween

t 3,00

t, wal

uid cc

make

a who

air

as in

0

in

ay

state

135


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:

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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?


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

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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

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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

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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.

139

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


140

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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


141

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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:


142

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.


144

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



145

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


147

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



149

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

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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


150

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

demic

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


151

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


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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MS. SHIRLEY:

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

Sargent’s court Reporting Service, Inc.(814) 536—8908

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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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is

the

food

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?


157

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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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


Yes.

All right.

Can you hear

Yes, we can

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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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[email protected]

in the chat. And

posted to the Dep

all

a rtme

time, with

to provide

139

ions

re


Laura provided those instruct

comments that are received a

nt’s website through our

our

top

all

ts

v

eComnent tool, i

public participa

to eComment and

that we — we’ve

several months.

that have been s

— is public and

accessibility

f you go to

tion at the

you can see

taken commen

And you can

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


32s( jul 212020 07-21...by laura perkins 94 — 96 by nora johnson 96 — 99 by corinne mayland 99...

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