Two environmental organizations have proposed 50 changes to the state Oil and Gas Act aimed at tightening environmental controls, increasing public review and taking into account the cumulative effects of Marcellus Shale gas development.

The amendments to the 1874 state law proposed by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation include changing the permitting process to allow for more public review and comment, increasing buffer zones around streams and waterways, requiring multiple on-site inspections by the state Department of Environmental Protection, increasing bonding amounts and requiring the gas industry to share pipelines and other support facilities to minimize surface impacts.

The two mainstream environmental groups said in a release announcing their proposals that recent accidents at Marcellus Shale drilling sites point to the need to strengthen state law and require use of best management practices to ensure that the environment and property owners are adequately protected.

"The regulations and oversight governing this industry have not kept up with the technology for extraction," said Matt Ehrhart, executive director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Pennsylvania office. "Updating Pennsylvania's Oil and Gas Act is a critical step in enabling the commonwealth to manage Marcellus extraction in a fashion that protects our natural resources and our communities."

The proposed amendments and recommendations were distributed to the governor's Marcellus Shale Commission and members of the state legislature today in Harrisburg.

According to the news release, the amendments are based on research done by the organizations and are "aimed at restoring public confidence in the industry's ability and commitment to responsible drilling and environmental compliance."

"The Marcellus Shale gas play represents a once-in-a-generation challenge and opportunity for Pennsylvania," said Paul M. King, PEC president and chief executive officer. "We have one chance to get it right and these amendments are the way to do that. It's our sincere hope that the General Assembly passes these amendments into law for the good of the Pennsylvania environment and economy."