Bill To Allow Fracking With Mine Influenced Waters Clears PA Senate Committee

Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Senate Environment Resources and Energy Committee took up Senate Bill No. 411, designed to foster the use of mine influenced water for hydraulic fracturing and other gas well development. The bill, originally proposed by Senator Richard Kasunic, was unanimously approved by the committee and can now move on to the full Senate.

The bill would amend Pennsylvania's Environmental Good Samaritan Act (the "Act") in several respects:

• By expanding or adding definitions under the Act to make clear that projects that withdraw, divert, and use mine influenced waters for fracking or other gas well development, industrial or other water supply, or other beneficial uses, with and in some cases without treatment, are eligible for the protections of the Act;