House OKs bill to relax rules for shallow gas, oil drilling

Associated Press: A Republican bill to relax regulations on the shallow oil and gas drilling that has gone on in Pennsylvania for more than a century passed the state House Tuesday despite firm opposition from Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.

The GOP-majority chamber voted 111-84 for a proposal that covers permits, rules for wells, spills and enforcement for drilling that does not include the much deeper wells tapping into the Marcellus Shale formation.

Backers say the bill is needed because “conventional” well operators can’t afford to meet tougher standards designed for Marcellus Shale production.

Read article