Pa. issues air pollution rules for gas drilling

www.timesleader.com/news/Pa-issues-air-pollution-rules-for-gas-drilling.html

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania state environmental regulators will follow new guidelines endorsed by a natural gas industry group for deciding how to group together facilities such as wells, dehydrators and compressors when enforcing air pollution standards.

The Department of Environmental Protection issued the new guidelines Wednesday and opened them up for public comment until Nov. 21.

The Citizens Voice of Wilkes-Barre reports (http://bit.ly/q4a4KE) that the industry group, Marcellus Shale Coalition, last year urged the state not to group air pollution sources that are not contiguous or adjacent, even if they’re connected by pipelines.

Instead, it recommended a quarter-mile rule that several other states follow and which the Pennsylvania DEP wants to follow.

The new guidelines take effect immediately, but are considered interim for now.