There are a host of laws and regulations in place to ensure that natural gas development can occur while protecting our environment and our native species, including trout. Water withdrawal for natural gas drilling is one of Pennsylvania’s tightly regulated processes.
Depending in which part of the Marcellus Shale play the hydraulic fracturing operations are happening, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection require operators to seek approval before withdrawing or using any amount of water for unconventional natural gas development. Streams must meet certain flow rates and standards, including hydrology, habitat and aquatic resources, in order to be considered for withdrawal. Coupled with these regulations, the federal Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act ensure that species like trout are protected.
