Yes. Natural gas development is primarily governed by state law and operators have to abide by a host of federal regulations.
In February 2012, Pennsylvania enacted Act 13, a comprehensive law that according to the Department of Environmental Protection, “enacted stronger environmental standards, authorized local governments to adopt an impact fee and built upon the state’s ongoing efforts to move towards energy independence as unconventional gas development continues”
Additional facts and documents on bipartisan Act 13 can be found on the PA DEP’s website, including a list of FAQs, and even a PowerPoint overview.
