Definitions.
ABANDONED WELL
Any of the following:
(1)
A well:
(a)
That has not been in use to produce, extract or inject gas, petroleum or other liquid within the preceding 12 months.
(b)
For which equipment necessary for production, extraction or injection has been removed.
(c)
Considered dry and not equipped for production within 60 days after drilling, redrilling or deepening.
ADDITIVE
A hydraulic fracturing chemical.
AGRICULTURAL ZONING DISTRICT
The same meaning as such term is used in current lawful provisions of Act 13 of 2012. The following Borough Zoning Districts shall, for the specific purposes of this amendment of this chapter, be considered "Agricultural Zoning Districts": A-1 District.
ALTERATION
An operation which changes the physical characteristics of a well bore, including stimulation or removing, repairing or changing the casing. For the purpose of this chapter only, the term does include:
(1)
Repairing or replacing the casing if the activity does not affect the depth or diameter of the well bore, the use or purpose of the well does not change, and the activity complies with regulations promulgated in this chapter, except that this exclusion does apply:
(a)
To production casings in coal areas when the production casings are also the coal protection casings.
(b)
When the method of repairing or replacing the casing would affect the coal production casing.
BOARD
The Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board.
BRIDGE
An obstruction placed in a well at any depth.
BUILDING
An occupied structure with walls and roof within which persons live or customarily work.
CASING
A string or strings of pipe commonly placed in wells drilled for natural gas or petroleum.
CEMENT OR CEMENT GROUT
Any of the following:
(1)
Hydraulic cement properly mixed with water only.
(2)
A mixture of materials adequate for bonding or sealing of well bores as approved by regulations promulgated under this chapter.
CHEMICAL
Any element, chemical compound or mixture of elements or compounds that has its own specific name or identity, such as a chemical abstract service number.
CHEMICAL DISCLOSURE REGISTRY
The chemical registry website developed by the Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission or their successor organizations.
CHEMICAL FAMILY
A group of chemicals that share similar chemical properties and have a common general name.
COAL MINE
Any of the following:
(1)
Operations in a coal seam, including excavated portions, abandoned portions and places actually being worked.
(2)
Underground workings and shafts, slopes, tunnels and other ways and openings, including those which are in the course of being sunk or driven, along with all roads and facilities connected with them below the surface.
COAL OPERATOR
A person that operates or proposes to operate a coal mine as an owner or lessee.
COMMISSION
The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission.
COMPLETION OF A WELL
The date after treatment, if any, that the well is properly equipped for production of oil and gas or, if the well is dry, the date that the well is abandoned.
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth.
DRILLING
The drilling or redrilling of a well or the deepening of an existing well.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTS
All statutes enacted by the Commonwealth relating to the protection of the environment or the protection of public health, safety and welfare that are administered and enforced by the Department or by another Commonwealth agency, including an independent agency, and all federal statutes relating to the protection of the environment, to the extent those statutes regulate oil and gas operation.
FRESH GROUNDWATER
Water in that portion of the generally recognized hydrologic cycle which occupies the pore spaces and fractures of saturated subsurface materials.
GAS
Any of the following:
(1)
A fluid, combustible or noncombustible, which is produced in a natural state from the earth and maintains a gaseous or rarified state at a standard temperature of 60°F, and pressure 14.7 PSIA.
(2)
Any manufactured gas, by-product gas or mixture of gases or natural gas liquids.
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
A physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, registered nurse or emergency medical technician licensed by the Commonwealth.
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING CHEMICAL
Any chemical substance or combination of substances, including any chemicals and proppants, which is intentionally added to a base fluid for purposes of preparing a stimulation fluid for use in hydraulic fracturing.
IMPOUNDMENT AREA
The same meaning as such term is used in Act 13 of 2012, including as used in 58 Pa.C.S.A. § 3304 and more specifically shall mean a water and other fluid storage or impoundment area used exclusively for oil and gas operations.
INACTIVATE
To shut off the vertical movement of gas in a gas storage well by means of a temporary plug or other suitable device or by injecting bentonitic mud or other equally nonporous material into the well.
INDUSTRIAL USES
The same meaning in this chapter as the term "industrial uses" is used in current lawful provisions of Act 13 of 2012; and, without limiting the foregoing, shall include the following specific uses provided for in this chapter under the listing of uses in the Industrial Zoning Districts (I-1):
(1)
All uses identified as permitted uses, conditional uses and special exceptions in the above zoning district.
LINEAR FOOT
A unit or measurement in a straight line on a horizontal plane.
NATURAL GAS
A fossil fuel consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbon gases, primarily methane, and possibly including ethane, propane, butane, pentane, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen sulfide and other gas species. The term includes natural gas from oil fields known as associated gas or casing head gas, natural gas fields known as non-associated gas, coal beds, shale beds and other formations. The term does not include coal bed methane.
NATURAL GAS COMPRESSOR STATION
The same meaning as such term is used in Act 13 of 2012, including in 58 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3301 through 3309.
NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS
Hydrocarbons in natural gas which are separated from the gas as liquids through the process of absorption, condensation, adsorption or other methods in gas processing of cycling plants.
NATURAL GAS PROCESSING PLANT
The same meaning as such term is used in Act 13 of 2012, including in 58 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3301 through 3309.
OCCUPIED BUILDING
For the specific purposes of this chapter, means consistent with the definition of "building" pursuant to Act 13 of 2012 (58 Pa.C.S.A. § 3203), an occupied structure with walls and roof within which persons live or customarily work.
OIL
Hydrocarbons in liquid form at standard temperature of 60°F, and pressure 14.7 PSIA, also referred to as petroleum.
OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS
The term includes the following:
(1)
Well location assessment, including seismic operations, well site preparation, construction, drilling, hydraulic fracturing and site restoration associated with an oil and gas well of any depth.
(2)
Water and other fluid storage or impoundment areas used exclusively for oil and gas operations.
(3)
Construction, installation, use, maintenance and repair of:
(b)
Natural gas compressor stations.
(c)
Natural gas processing plants or facilities performing equivalent functions.
(4)
Construction, installation, use, maintenance and repair of all equipment directly associated with activities specified in Subsections (1), (2) and (3), to the extent that:
(a)
The equipment is necessarily located at or immediately adjacent to a well site, impoundment area, oil and gas pipeline, natural gas compressor station or natural gas processing plant.
(b)
The activities are authorized and permitted under the authority of a Federal or Commonwealth agency.
OIL AND GAS WELL or WELL
As used in this chapter is intended to have the same meaning as the term "well" as defined in § 3203 of Act 13 of 2012 58 Pa.C.S.A. § 3203).
OIL AND GAS WELL or WELL SITE
As used in this chapter is intended to have the same meaning as the term "well site" as used in Act 13 of 2012 58 Pa.C.S.A. § 3304(b)(5.1)).
OPERATING COAL MINE
Any of the following:
(1)
An underground coal mine which is producing coal or has been in production of coal at any time during the 12 months immediately preceding the date its status is put in question, including contiguous worked-out or abandoned coal mines to which it is connected underground.
(2)
An underground coal mine to be established or reestablished under this subsection.
OPERATING WELL
A well that is not plugged and abandoned.
ORPHAN WELL
A well abandoned prior to April 18, 1985, that has not been affected or operated by the present owner or operator and from which the present owner, operator or lessee has received no economic benefit other than as a landowner or recipient of a royalty interest from the well.
OUTSIDE COAL BOUNDARIES
When used in conjunction with the term "operating coal mine," the boundaries of the coal acreage assigned to the coal mine under an underground mine permit issued by the Department of Environmental Protection.
OWNER
A person who owns, manages, leases, controls or possesses a well or coal property. The term does not apply to orphan wells, except where the Department of Environmental Protection determines a prior owner or operator benefitted from the well as provided in § 3220(a) of Act 13 of 2012 (relating to plugging requirements).
OWNER OF BUILDING OR ADJOINING LOT
For the purposes of this chapter, shall have the same meaning as such term as used in Act 13 of 2012 (58 Pa.C.S.A. § 3304(b)).
PERMANENT OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS
As used in this chapter, is intended to have the same meaning as the term "permanent oil and gas operations" as used in Act 13 of 2012 (58 Pa.C.S.A. § 3304(b)(3)).
PERMITTED USE
A use which, upon submission of written notice to and receipt of a permit issued by a Zoning Officer or equivalent official, is authorized to be conducted without restrictions other than those set forth in § 3304 of Act 13 of 2012 (relating to uniformity of local ordinances).
PERSON
An individual, association, partnership, corporation, political subdivision or agency of the federal government, state government or other legal entity.
PETROLEUM
Hydrocarbons in liquid form at standard temperature of 60°F, and pressure 14.7 PSIA, also referred to as oil.
PILLAR
A solid brick of coal surrounded by either active mine workings or a mined-out area.
PLAT
A map, drawing or print accurately drawn to scale showing the proposed or existing location of a well or wells.
RESERVOIR PROTECTIVE AREA
The area surrounding a storage reservoir boundary, but within 2,000 linear feet of the storage reservoir boundary, unless an alternate area has been designated by the Department of Environmental Protection, which is deemed reasonably necessary to afford protection to the reservoir, under a conference held in accordance with § 3251 of Act 13 of 2012 (relating to conferences).
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT OR RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT
The same meaning as the term "Residential District" as used in current lawful provisions of Act 13 of 2012. The following zoning districts shall, for the purposes of this chapter, be considered "Residential Zoning Districts": R-1 District and R-2 District.
RETREAT MINING
Removal of coal pillars, ribs and stumps remaining after development mining has been completed in that section of a coal mine.
REVIEW PERIOD FOR CONDITIONAL USES
As used in this chapter, is intended to have the same meaning as such phrase is used in the current lawful provisions of Act 13 of 2012, and as specifically set forth elsewhere in this chapter.
REVIEW PERIOD FOR PERMITTED USES
As used in this chapter, is intended to have the same meaning as such phrase is used in the current lawful provisions of Act 13 of 2012, and as specifically set forth elsewhere in this chapter.
SECERTARY
The Secretary of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth.
STORAGE OPERATOR
A person who operates or proposes to operate a storage reservoir as an owner or lessee.
STORAGE RESERVOIR
Portion of a subsurface geological stratum into which gas is or may be injected for storage purposes or to test suitability of the stratum for storage.
UNCONVENTIONAL FORMATION
A geological shale formation existing below the base of the Elk Sandstone or its geological equivalent stratigraphic interval where natural gas generally cannot be produced at economic flow rates or in economic volumes except by vertical or horizontal well bores stimulated by hydraulic fracture treatments or by using multilateral well bores or other techniques to expose more of the formation to the well bore.
UNCONVENTIONAL WELL
A bore hole drilled or being drilled for the purpose of or to be used for the production of natural gas from an unconventional formation.
WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
A plan associated with drilling or completing a well in an unconventional formation that demonstrates that the withdrawal and use of water sources protects those sources as required by law and protects public health, safety and welfare.
WATER PURVEYOR
Any of the following:
(1)
The owner or operator of a public water system as defined in § 3 of the Act of May 1, 1984 (P.L. 206, No. 43), known as the "Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act."[8]
(2)
Any person subject to the Act of June 24, 1939 (P.L. 842, No. 365), referred to as the "Water Rights Law."[9]
WATER SOURCE
(1)
Any of the following:
(a)
Waters of this Commonwealth.
(b)
A source of water supply used by a water purveyor.
(c)
Mine pools and discharges.
(d)
Any other waters that are used for drilling or completing a well in an unconventional formation.
(2)
The term does not include flowback or production waters or other fluids:
(a)
Which are used for drilling or completing a well in an unconventional formation.
(b)
Which do not discharge into waters of this Commonwealth.
WELL
A bore hole drilled or being drilled for the purpose of, or to be used for, producing, extracting or injecting gas, petroleum or another liquid related to oil and gas production or storage, including brine disposal, but excluding a bore hole drilled to produce potable water. The term does not include a bore hole drilled or being drilled for the purpose of, or to be used for:
(1)
Systems of monitoring, producing or extracting gas from solid waster disposal facilities, if the bore hole is a well subject to the Act of July 7, 1980 (P.L. 380, No. 97), known as the "Solid Waste Management Act,"[10] which does not penetrate a workable coal seam.
(2)
Degasifying coal seams if the bore hole is:
(a)
Used to vent methane to the outside atmosphere from an operating coal mine; regulated as part of the mining permit under the Act of June 22, 1937 (P.L. 1987, No. 418), known as the "Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act";[11] and drilled by the operator of the operating coal mine for the purpose of increased safety.
(b)
Used to vent methane to the outside atmosphere under a federally funded or state-funded abandoned mine reclamation project.
WELL AND PIPELINE LOCATION ASSESSMENT OPERATIONS
The same meaning as such term is used in Act 13 of 2012, including in 58 Pa.C.S.A. § 3304.
WELL CONTROL EMERGENCY
An incident during drilling, operation, workover or completion that, as determined by the Department, poses a threat to public health, welfare or safety, including a loss of circulation fluids, kick, casing failure, blowout, fire and/or explosion.
WELL CONTROL SPECIALIST
Any person trained to respond to a well control emergency with a current certification from a well control course accredited by the International Association of Drilling Contractors or other organization approved by the Department.
WELL OPERATOR
Any of the following:
(1)
The person designated as operator or well operator on the permit application or well registration.
(2)
If a permit or well registration was not issued, a person who locates, drills, operates, alters or plugs a well, or reconditions a well, with the purpose of production from the well.
(3)
If a well is used in connection with underground storage of gas, a storage operator.
WETLAND
Areas inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and which normally support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, including swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas.
WORKABLE COAL SEAMS
A coal seam which:
(1)
Is actually being mined in the area in question under this chapter by underground methods.
(2)
In the judgment of the Department of Environmental Protection, can reasonably be expected to be mined by underground methods.