HB 1501 — An Act amending Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Radiation Testing Pilot Program.

PRINTER'S NO.   1756

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1501
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, WAXMAN, HILL-EVANS, PIELLI, OTTEN,
        GUENST, HOHENSTEIN, PROBST, SANCHEZ, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
        D. WILLIAMS AND CIRESI, MAY 27, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE
        PROTECTION, MAY 28, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, establishing the Radiation Testing Pilot Program.
 3      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 4   hereby enacts as follows:
 5      Section 1.    Title 58 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 6   Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
 7                                CHAPTER 29
 8                      RADIATION TESTING PILOT PROGRAM
 9   Sec.
10   2901.   Definitions.
11   2902.   Operation of Radiation Testing Pilot Program.
12   2903.   Powers and duties of department.
13   2904.   Report to General Assembly.
14   2905.   Subsequent actions regarding radiation testing.
15   § 2901.   Definitions.
16      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
17   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 1   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 2      "Department."     The Department of Environmental Protection of
 3   the Commonwealth.
 4      "Dosimeter."     A device used to measure an individual's
 5   exposure to radiation.
 6      "Operator."      A well operator.
 7      "Owner."      As defined in section 3203 (relating to
 8   definitions).
 9      "Pilot program."     The Radiation Testing Pilot Program
10   established under section 2902(a) (relating to operation of
11   Radiation Testing Pilot Program).
12      "Well."      As defined in section 3203.
13   § 2902.    Operation of Radiation Testing Pilot Program.
14      (a)    Establishment.--The Radiation Testing Pilot Program is
15   established within the department to:
16             (1)   Improve the detection of potentially radioactive
17      leachate at well sites.
18             (2)   Protect individuals who work at oil or gas drilling
19      sites.
20      (b)    Commencement and duration.--The pilot program shall
21   operate for one full year, beginning January 1 of the year that
22   begins at least six months after the effective date of this
23   subsection.
24   § 2903.    Powers and duties of department.
25      (a)    Guidelines and procedures.--The department shall
26   establish guidelines and procedures necessary for the
27   implementation and administration of the pilot program, which
28   must also include:
29             (1)   The requirement that each individual working at an
30      oil or gas drilling site shall wear a dosimeter to measure

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 1      and monitor radiation levels.
 2             (2)   The requirement that each owner or operator of an
 3      oil or gas drilling site shall report to the department, on a
 4      quarterly basis in the form and manner as determined by the
 5      department, the average radiation level to which individuals
 6      working at the oil or gas drilling site of the owner or
 7      operator are exposed, as detected by a dosimeter worn by the
 8      individuals.
 9      (b)    Selection.--The department shall select at least three
10   oil or gas drilling sites located in this Commonwealth to
11   participate in the pilot program.
12   § 2904.    Report to General Assembly.
13      (a)    Issuance.--No later than one year after the commencement
14   of the pilot program, the department shall issue a report to the
15   General Assembly on radiation levels measured at oil and gas
16   drilling sites, which must also include any recommendations to:
17             (1)   Improve radiation safety.
18             (2)   Expand the pilot program or develop a radiation
19      testing program on a permanent Statewide basis based on the
20      pilot program.
21      (b)    Submittal.--The department shall submit the report under
22   subsection (a) to:
23             (1)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
24      Environmental Resources and Energy Committee of the Senate.
25             (2)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
26      Energy Committee of the House of Representatives.
27             (3)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
28      Environmental and Natural Resource Protection Committee of
29      the House of Representatives.
30   § 2905.    Subsequent actions regarding radiation testing.

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1      After submitting the report in accordance with section
2   2904(b) (relating to report to General Assembly), the department
3   may take actions to expand the pilot program or develop a
4   radiation testing program on a permanent Statewide basis based
5   on the pilot program, unless otherwise directed by the General
6   Assembly.
7      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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