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PA HB84

PA HB84
In general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in residual waste, providing for prohibition on road spreading and land application of oil and gas wastewater.


summary

Introduced
01/10/2025
In Committee
01/10/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Amending the act of July 7, 1980 (P.L.380, No.97), entitled "An act providing for the planning and regulation of solid waste storage, collection, transportation, processing, treatment, and disposal; requiring municipalities to submit plans for municipal waste management systems in their jurisdictions; authorizing grants to municipalities; providing regulation of the management of municipal, residual and hazardous waste; requiring permits for operating hazardous waste and solid waste storage, processing, treatment, and disposal facilities; and licenses for transportation of hazardous waste; imposing duties on persons and municipalities; granting powers to municipalities; authorizing the Environmental Quality Board and the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules, regulations, standards and procedures; granting powers to and imposing duties upon county health departments; providing remedies; prescribing penalties; and establishing a fund," in general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in residual waste, providing for prohibition on road spreading and land application of oil and gas wastewater.

AI Summary

This bill amends the Solid Waste Management Act to expand the definition of "residual waste" and prohibit certain practices related to oil and gas wastewater. Specifically, the bill modifies the existing definition of residual waste to explicitly include oil-related and gas-related wastewater, tophole water, production water, brine, and wastewater sludge from both conventional and unconventional oil and gas wells. The bill also introduces new restrictions on the disposal and use of such wastewater, making it unlawful to spread, dump, or apply oil and gas wastewater on dirt, gravel, or paved roads, with a limited exception for tophole water at well sites. Additionally, the bill prohibits vehicles from being equipped with mechanisms that would allow road spreading of these wastewaters and clarifies that such wastewaters used for dust suppression, road deicing, or road bed stabilization cannot be considered a co-product under department regulations. These provisions aim to prevent environmental contamination and improper disposal of oil and gas industry wastewater. The bill will take effect 60 days after its enactment.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sponsors (15)

Last Action

Referred to Environmental & Natural Resource Protection (on 01/10/2025)

bill text


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