Senate committee discusses need for gas well response legislation

August 5, 2010
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Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee last week discussed planned legislation that would require additional emergency response procedures for gas well operators.

Under the Faster Action Safety Team Emergency Response Act, which has yet to be introduced, OSHA would draft regulations requiring well operators to:

  • Contact local first responders within 15 minutes -- and OSHA and the National Response Center within one hour -- of the start of an emergency situation

  • Provide annual training to local first responders on the hazards of the well site

  • Have a certified response team available onsite within one hour
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), who plans to introduce the legislation in the near future, led the July 26 hearing in Pittsburgh.



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