Marcellus Shale development is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). There is a host of regulations, specifically the Oil and Gas Act, which was recently updated through the enactment of Act 13, that ensure natural gas development is done safely and in an environmentally responsible manner.
When issues arise, operators are required by law to report any incident to the DEP. DEP inspectors also inspect sites before, during and after wells are drilled to ensure they are being constructed in accordance with state regulations.
If a homeowner believes their water well has been impacted by natural gas development, they can contact DEP who then visits the home and draws a water sample to determine if the claim is valid. Importantly, prior to drilling commencing, natural gas producers are required by law to test all water wells, stream and public water supplies within a 2,500 foot radius of a proposed well location. These pre-drill water samples are then used as a baseline should an issue arise in the future.
