Over the course of the last year, Pennsylvania has experienced a variety of regulatory and legislative developments and proposals relating to oil and gas activity in the state, specifically with regard to environmental rulemaking for unconventional wells, remedies for failure to pay minimum royalties, streamlined permitting procedures for unconventional wells and related infrastructure and severance taxes.
Chapter 78 and 78a Regulations
Toward the end of last year, on Oct. 8, 2016, the Environmental Quality Board passed final rulemaking on regulations related to surface activities associated with the development of unconventional oil and gas wells, which amended Chapter 78 (relating to oil and gas wells) and added Chapter 78a (relating to unconventional wells). Prior to this final rulemaking, the surface activity requirements in Chapter 78 had not been updated since 2001.
