Bill > HB1946

This bill modifies existing Pennsylvania law regarding well location restrictions for both conventional and unconventional gas wells, significantly increasing setback distances from various environmental and human-use features. Specifically, the bill expands the required horizontal distance between well pads and buildings, water wells, water supply intakes, streams, and other water bodies from previous shorter distances to much larger setbacks, such as increasing the distance from buildings from 500 to 2,500 feet for unconventional wells. The bill also introduces new restrictions, including prohibiting unconventional wells within 2,500 feet of buildings and water supplies, and within 5,000 feet of sensitive facilities like schools, hospitals, and facilities serving individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Additionally, the legislation modifies the variance process for well operators, changing how they can request exceptions to these distance restrictions and defining "related unconventional drilling infrastructure" to include items like compressor stations, storage pits, tanks containing hazardous materials, and equipment for storing chemicals or waste. The changes aim to enhance environmental protection and public safety by creating more stringent spatial separation between drilling activities and inhabited or ecologically sensitive areas.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb1946