[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6188850,"mediaKeyId","5061863-6b2ba3be3da02d6501a76579f3109ddb","parentId",5061863,"title","Committee backs bill to restore DEP authority on plugging bonds for conventional wells","audioSeconds",1324,"startMs",960000,"endMs",2284000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5061863-6b2ba3be3da02d6501a76579f3109ddb&start=960&end=2284","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5061863-6b2ba3be3da02d6501a76579f3109ddb/thumbnail_960000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6188850/Pennsylvania/Committee-backs-bill-to-restore-DEP-authority-on-plugging-bonds-for-conventional-wells","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6188850-2c2404687372784b7da9bf55e6d7c1dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1773618924&Signature=V-3F~LMFtkdiJ2YMdjo392lyDvu7htLnr0PbpS-yGGbbHo0LjMrMo3ci0P8EqoVSJkwjyZF1EHGKRR6TnMNti~DGr-pD12AT18MARIXhQOiIroOEakmxWo02rJp6yIOpL2myVzzrbxUi4FS-SnHeRv47N-jcjDqLOPJvsMTScrU7Pps~7E5mXzYKgj4-pww8rTs4QzjJvjRWSc5QryKklTAEUP4BjnrHj7eOxosJpeOhPYx7XvjSCOF47h21Q4~WoljKB033-1JxwBZDTO-wXsq337nOa7d10aA60KgqfPqtpdjeYpGkELhy0ByFwcJEA1a4xTE4gzkCSitRudTcXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pennsylvania House of Representatives","date","2025-06-25T02:23:55.907Z","article","The House Environmental Committee voted to report House Bill 364 to the full House. The bill would restore to the Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Quality Board the authority to adjust required surety and bond amounts for conventional gas wells, reversing a change made in 2022 that fixed a $2,500 bond minimum and limited regulatory adjustment for 10 years.

Committee members described a gap between the current $2,500 surety on many conventional wells and published estimates of plugging costs. Committee staff cited DEP data showing that, since 2022, roughly 1,154 wells that were active at the start of 2022 are now listed as abandoned, while roughly 308 wells have been plugged in the same period. Sponsors said small bonding amounts can encourage operators to walk away from liabilities; the bill would allow DEP and the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) to increase bonding levels for new conventional wells so operators bear more of the plugging cost.

Opponents warned that sharply higher bonding requirements could push small drilling firms out of business and lead to more abandonment. A committee member said federal funding is available for plugging work and argued that government programs could be used more efficiently. One member cited examples from recent hearings: a nonprofit seeking support to plug two wells was quoted a combined $170,000 by an applicant, while private contractors in the oil field estimated plugging costs in some cases at $10,000 to $20,000. Committee debate repeatedly distinguished legacy abandoned wells from wells that have been active in recent years; sponsors said the bill applies to future wells and restores regulatory flexibility for bonding going forward. The committee recorded sufficient yes votes to report the bill to the House as a whole.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee -- June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 364, which would restore the Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Quality Board's authority to adjust bonding amounts for conventional gas wells, was reported out of the House Environmental Committee after debate over costs, industry impacts and federal funding.","taxTitle","Environmental Resources & Energy, House of Representatives, Legislative, Pennsylvania","taxId",29236,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":44,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6188855,"Committee approves bill lowering max fee for shoreline groin permits to $250",183,777000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5061863-6b2ba3be3da02d6501a76579f3109ddb&start=777&end=960","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5061863-6b2ba3be3da02d6501a76579f3109ddb/thumbnail_777000.jpg","/articles/6188855/Pennsylvania/Committee-approves-bill-lowering-max-fee-for-shoreline-groin-permits-to-250","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6188855-9fd99a98edf6fac1b81be9b6c0d09435/orig.mp4?Expires=1773618924&Signature=IsKWdOn4mgOEdRGA5I3VjcuIkbBIpUTYrqF98CbTr-Qw5Xwck2FSXwaEId1jaJN3zoUEruvY~hNrfjl9XgcgVRc2Kbb5h4gwfOAsq6WrwwdIdKOc8Je361-SBYhZp1Por2D71kwRXzbAHj5FbLmIEfDwio6SgxoPXBDB3wmjk5tTWtT39QpZzc96FO7Zw3CPr4INvlvTkBayanAipnxvdd7NlEqj8JRuFpKPVR3V~0CF41UF~cVY5ryNA7tCHnXvtCJd6x8iU9S~0VKz0ipt0yxNe~q4H4YLXVS4gL8Up1v~qdrUfT~uJsOBxp7rRemkngrS792jQzfddKjY~PAZHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Environmental Committee voted to report Senate Bill 109 to the full House after committee staff summarized the proposal to reduce the maximum license fee for \"groin\" structures — perpendicular barriers used on shorelines to limit erosion — to $250. Committee members described the bill as a priority for leadership and said the fee reduction responds to constituent concerns about permitting costs for private shoreline owners.

Committee staff said the bill was positioned to move as part of broader budget discussions. A committee member said in deference to leadership she would be supportive of the measure. No substantive amendments were offered in committee discussion. The committee completed a roll call and the bill will be reported to the House as a whole.

The bill changes the statutory cap on the license fee for groin structures; committee discussion focused on permit cost impacts for local shoreline owners rather than technical design standards or environmental review. The committee did not make changes to the bill text during the hearing; further debate and any amendments would occur when the bill reaches the House floor.","The House Environmental Committee voted to report Senate Bill 109, which reduces the maximum license fee for shoreline groin structures to $250, citing concerns about costs to local shoreline owners.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6188861,"House committee orders study of conservation officer pay and benefits",384,380000,764000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5061863-6b2ba3be3da02d6501a76579f3109ddb&start=380&end=764","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5061863-6b2ba3be3da02d6501a76579f3109ddb/thumbnail_380000.jpg","/articles/6188861/Pennsylvania/House-committee-orders-study-of-conservation-officer-pay-and-benefits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6188861-7ef73f8203447e992fc660f079d3bcc6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773618924&Signature=cxb2qf~HaDmZSI8Ob95zB74t~0KdHxXV0RIQXPB0NzTYs5H5J2PWG2wOqXw3KL-OsxC-8l4Sqi5HBySVOeIZcLJdikk~NAFIWsA-9iZsiilbLJYzxIDQaTbqHI~0LB~YQxbeFQenn2fMlWYwTOSI7phIC8dqx18aByNa~L~Z0ZcuPTZxZ1KWtFgnRnLN4l4gwEaWvIbQ6oDNXIQghfOqXA-7SOGxMOuKvcEzJRqVLdqcu~YHq-Xz8dCWhP6JNs5ebk3iyYQQxxbw-bytl0kJQN0Cgi4X4RxebRXiZRgcd8OO-ds26KloDVLhEASTnzMjU6PixGg~A8tg2r2SmEqkUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Environmental Committee voted to report House Resolution 218 on a study of salaries and benefits for game wardens, waterway conservation officers and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources rangers, sending the measure to the full House. The resolution directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to complete the study and report back to the House, the Senate and the governor within one year.

Committee members said the measure aims to document whether pay and benefits may be contributing to staffing shortages in Pennsylvania’s three conservation agencies. Representative Haddock, who presented the resolution, said agency leaders have told him that classification and contract negotiation issues have hampered recruitment and retention. \"These conservation officers are law enforcement officers by definition,\" Haddock said during his remarks, noting officers carry firearms as part of their duties.

Supporters said the study is a fact-finding tool to compare compensation with neighboring states and with other Pennsylvania law enforcement positions. Representative James asked whether the study would cost taxpayers additional money; committee staff and Haddock said the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee conducts studies as part of its existing duties and, in their view, the study itself would not require a separate appropriation. The committee voted to report the resolution to the House as a whole.

The resolution does not itself change pay or benefits. It only directs the budget-and-finance committee to investigate and report findings. If the study recommends legislative or budgetary changes, those would require separate action by the General Assembly. The committee recorded its approval and the resolution will be considered by the full House.","The House Environmental Committee voted to report House Resolution 218, directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study pay and benefits for Pennsylvania conservation officers and compare them with neighboring states and other in-state law enforcement roles.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs bill to restore DEP authority on plugging bonds for conventional wells

Committee approves bill lowering max fee for shoreline groin permits to $250

House committee orders study of conservation officer pay and benefits