Pennsylvania SB 712: An Act amending Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in development, further providing for definitions and for plugging requirements.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 726
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 712
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY YAW, BARTOLOTTA, LAUGHLIN, STEFANO, HUTCHINSON AND
MASTRIANO, MAY 2, 2025
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, MAY 2, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in development, further providing for definitions
and for plugging requirements.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 3203 of Title 58 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
§ 3203. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
" Attainable bottom." The depth, approved by the department,
that can be achieved after a reasonable effort made in good
faith is expended to clean out to the total depth.
* * *
"Reasonable effort." In relation to an operator's action to
achieve an attainable bottom, action that cleans out a well to
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at least 200 feet below the coal protective casing or, if no
coal protective casing is present, the coal seam or surface
casing, whichever is deeper, and continues to clean out the well
until an additional 100 feet of well bore cannot be cleaned out
within one eight-hour work shift or the total depth of the well
is reached.
* * *
"Total depth." The depth to which a well was originally
drilled, subsequently drilled or the depth to which it was
plugged back in a manner approved by the department.
* * *
Section 2. Section 3220 of Title 58 is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
§ 3220. Plugging requirements.
* * *
(a.1) Cement plug at attainable bottom.--In order to comply
with subsection (a), the department shall require, at a minimum,
that a cement plug of at least 50 feet be set at the attainable
bottom of the well bore, the depth and efficacy of the plug be
confirmed and the remaining well bore be plugged to the surface
with a solid column of cement.
* * *
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250SB0712PN0726 - 2 -
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