Comment on DEP's Rule

What's Happening:

Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is one of the most potent climate pollutants we face—more than 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in the short term. Yet every year, over a million metric tons of methane are leaked, vented, or flared by oil and gas operations across Pennsylvania. This waste could have provided the needs of more than 820,000 households – Seventeen times the number of households in Lycoming County.

Instead, it pollutes our air, contributing to climate change, and endangering the health of our families.
 
The good news is, we have the tools and technology to change course. In March 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published long-overdue methane standards to limit emissions from both new and existing oil and gas sources.

That means supporting the strongest possible methane rules that include regular leak monitoring at well sites, fully phasing out intentionally polluting equipment, and a swift response to large emission events known as super-emitters. These measures are common sense: they protect our air, conserve our resources, and ensure a level playing field across industry.  

Communities living near oil and gas operations deserve better. They deserve relief from air pollution that aggravates asthma, increases cancer risk, and puts children and seniors at risk. Pennsylvania currently has some of the worst air quality grades in the country, with thousands of residents suffering from respiratory diseases exacerbated by pollutants released alongside methane.

We are asking for you to comment in support of this rulemaking.

Full Text of the Rule is Here.

WE HAVE UNTIL JULY 30 TO COMMENT.

Right now, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is considering new, commonsense safeguards that can stop waste, clean up our air, and create good-paying jobs across the state. To make sure these protections are strong and lasting,public input is critical. This is your chance to speak up for your family, your community, and Pennsylvania’s future. Every comment counts.

There are several ways to comment. You can show up at one of the available hearings. RDA will be making a showing at the July 9th hearing in Williamsport.

**In order to comment in person, you must first contact Amanda
Rodriguez, P.O. Box 8468, Harrisburg, PA 17105, (717) 787-7677,
amarodrigu@pa.gov, at least 1 week in advance of the hearing to reserve a time to present testimony.**

Comments have a time limit, so please reach out to Amanda for more information.

Here are the hearing dates:

July 9: 6:30 p.m. at the Department's North Central Regional Office, 208 West Third Street, Suite 101, Williamsport, PA 17701.

June 30: 6:30 p.m. at the Yost Auditorium, Washington and Jefferson College, 60 South Lincoln Street, Washington, PA 15301.

July 1: 6:30 p.m. at the Drake Well Museum, 202 Museum Lane, Titusville, PA 16354.

July 7: 12 p.m. at the Rachel Carson State Office Building, Room 105, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.

July 10: 12 p.m. virtually from DEP’s webpage [when available]

July 14: 6:30 p.m. at the Susquehanna County Public Safety Center, 210 Public Way, New Milford, PA 18834.

July 16: 6:30 p.m. at the College Hall 144/148, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell Campus, 340 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422.

You can also make a comment online by visiting:

DEP's Online Comment Portal

Need Some Help or Tips?


Written comments can be submitted until July 30, 2025. Submit written comments:

1. Online through the PA eComment System

2. Mailed to the Policy Office, Department of Environmental Protection, Rachel Carson, State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063. Use ''Proposed OOOOc State Plan'' as the subject line in written communication.

Drafting your comments: You don't need to be an “expert”; your real-world experience is expertise enough. The format below is a guide meant to help you structure your thoughts:

1. Introduction: Introduce yourself, describe where you live, and explain why you care about the issue.

2. Problem: Why unregulated oil and gas methane pollution is harmful to your community/family. Consider local climate impacts, the effects of air pollution released alongside methane, and the needless waste of Pennsylvania’s natural gas resources.

3. Solution: The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has the authority to implement methane rules that will protect Pennsylvanians and future generations.

4. Ask: Gov. Shapiro, thank you for adopting methane protections that cut oil and gas methane waste and pollution. What will you and your administration do to ensure these are durable and resilient to changes at the federal level?


More Info to Help

The below linked document contains talking points prepared by our friends over at the Environmental Defense Fund.

Talking Points