The state of Pennsylvania will work with a major natural gas producer to collect in-depth data on air emissions and water quality at well sites, enhance public disclosure of drilling chemicals and expand buffer zones, officials announced Thursday, touting the collaboration as the first of its kind. CNX Resources Corp.
The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns about the potential environmental and health effects of fracking, and more than three years after a grand jury concluded that state regulators had failed to properly oversee the state's huge gas-drilling industry. Gov. Josh Shapiro was set to appear with Nick Deiuliis, CNX’s president and CEO, at a news conference in Washington County later Thursday.
Under its agreement with the state, CNX will also disclose the chemicals to be used at a well site before the start of drilling and fracking. It will also expand setbacks from the state-required 500 feet to 600 feet at all drilling sites, and increase them to 2500 feet for schools, hospitals and other sensitive sites during the data-collection period. Pennsylvania is the nation’s No. 2 gas-producing state after Texas.