HB 1946 — An Act amending Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in development, further providing for well location restrictions.

PRINTER'S NO.   2455

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1946
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY VITALI, WAXMAN, HILL-EVANS, K.HARRIS, PROBST,
        RABB, HOHENSTEIN, WEBSTER, KENYATTA AND FRANKEL,
        OCTOBER 14, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE
        PROTECTION, OCTOBER 16, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in development, further providing for well location
 3      restrictions.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.    Section 3215(a) and (b) of Title 58 of the
 7   Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended and the section
 8   is amended by adding a subsection to read:
 9   § 3215.   Well location restrictions.
10      (a)    General rule.--Wells may not be drilled within 200 feet,
11   or, in the case of an unconventional gas well, [500] 2,500 feet,
12   measured horizontally from the [vertical well bore] perimeter of
13   the well pad to a building or water well, existing when the copy
14   of the plat is mailed as required by section 3211(b) (relating
15   to well permits) without written consent of the owner of the
16   building or water well. Unconventional gas wells may not be
17   drilled within [1,000] 2,500 feet measured horizontally from the
 1   [vertical well bore] perimeter of the well pad to any existing
 2   water well, surface water intake, reservoir or other water
 3   supply extraction point used by a water purveyor [without the
 4   written consent of the water purveyor. If consent is not
 5   obtained and]. If the distance restriction would deprive the
 6   owner of the oil and gas rights of the right to produce or share
 7   in the oil or gas underlying the surface tract, the well
 8   operator [shall be granted] may submit a request for a variance
 9   from the distance restriction [upon submission of]. As part of
10   the variance request, the well operator shall submit a plan
11   identifying the additional measures, facilities or practices as
12   prescribed by the department to be employed during well site
13   construction, drilling and operations. [The variance] If the
14   department is satisfied that the plan adequately addresses these
15   additional measures, facilities or practices, the variance shall
16   be granted and shall include additional terms and conditions
17   required by the department to ensure safety and protection of
18   affected persons and property, including insurance, bonding,
19   indemnification and technical requirements. Notwithstanding
20   section 3211(e), if a variance request has been submitted, the
21   department may extend its permit review period for up to 15 days
22   upon notification to the applicant of the reasons for the
23   extension.
24      (b)   Limitation.--
25            (1)   No well site may be prepared or well drilled within
26      100 feet or, in the case of an unconventional well, [300] 750
27      feet from the [vertical well bore or 100 feet from the edge
28      of the well site, whichever is greater,] perimeter of the
29      well pad, measured horizontally from any solid blue lined
30      stream, spring or body of water as identified on the most

20250HB1946PN2455                    - 2 -
 1    current 7 1/2 minute topographic quadrangle map of the United
 2    States Geological Survey.
 3        (2)     The edge of the disturbed area associated with any
 4    unconventional well site must maintain a [100-foot] 750-foot
 5    setback from the edge of any solid blue lined stream, spring
 6    or body of water as identified on the most current 7 1/2
 7    minute topographic quadrangle map of the United States
 8    Geological Survey.
 9        (3)     No unconventional well may be drilled within [300]
10    750 feet of any wetlands greater than one acre in size, and
11    the edge of the disturbed area of any well site must maintain
12    a [100-foot] 750-foot setback from the boundary of the
13    wetlands.
14        (3.1)     Except as provided under paragraph (3.2), no
15    unconventional well or related unconventional drilling
16    infrastructure shall be located within 2,500 feet of a
17    building, water well or water supply.
18        (3.2)     No unconventional well or related unconventional
19    drilling infrastructure shall be located within 5,000 feet of
20    a school, hospital, long-term care facility, child-care
21    facility or facility that houses or serves individuals with
22    intellectual or developmental disabilities.
23        (4)     The department [shall] may not waive the distance
24    restrictions [upon submission of a plan identifying
25    additional measures, facilities or practices to be employed
26    during well site construction, drilling and operations
27    necessary to protect the waters of this Commonwealth. The
28    waiver, if granted, shall include additional terms and
29    conditions required by the department necessary to protect
30    the waters of this Commonwealth. Notwithstanding section

20250HB1946PN2455                  - 3 -
 1      3211(e), if a waiver request has been submitted, the
 2      department may extend its permit review period for up to 15
 3      days upon notification to the applicant of the reasons for
 4      the extension].
 5      * * *
 6      (h)   Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term
 7   "related unconventional drilling infrastructure" shall include
 8   any of the following:
 9            (1)   A compressor station.
10            (2)   A pit or impoundment containing drilling cuttings,
11      flowback water, produced water or hazardous materials,
12      chemicals or waste.
13            (3)   A tank containing hazardous materials, chemicals,
14      condensate, waste, flowback or produced water.
15            (4)   Any equipment or structure used for the storage or
16      handling of water, chemicals, fuels, hazardous materials or
17      solid waste on a well site.
18      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20250HB1946PN2455                    - 4 -