Tighter Drilling Regulations Urged

Environmental advocates say state regulators need to step up the effort to protect water sources from the effects of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
A new report from PennEnvironment has five recommendations to minimize the environmental impact of natural gas drilling.
The group is calling for steeper penalties for companies that leak chemicals and gasses into drinking water sources, and more funding for Department of Environmental Protection drilling inspectors.
Clean water advocate Erika Staaf also wants to see the state bar drilling in large swaths of state forests and parks.

"We're not calling for an all-out ban, but we would like to place certain areas off limits to drilling, including those that are close to personal drinking water areas, and areas that supply drinking water to downstream communities, especially sensitive or threatened ecosystems such as wetlands."

Lawmakers agreed to lease out acres of state forest land for drilling as part of this year's budget plan.
Drilling has led to several instances of drinking water contamination over the past year, according to DEP findings.