Families and Environmental and Health Groups Call on PA to Increase Minimum Setbacks from Fracking Wells
HARRISBURG, PA (October 7, 2026) —Today, families and environmental and health organizations from across the state called on Governor Shapiro to establish greater protective distances between new fracking wells and nearby homes, schools, and water sources.
Groups made this push as Pennsylvania faces an influx of proposed data centers. These proposals raise concerns about increased reliance on fracked gas and the potential for additional drilling and fossil fuel infrastructure across the state, putting Pennsylvania families in danger.
Pennsylvania’s current rules allow fracking wells to be located as close as 500 feet from buildings (and even closer with exceptions) — a distance that was never set based on health studies and are woefully insufficient to protect public health and the environment from the numerous dangers of fracking.
To address harms from fracking, Clean Air Council and Environmental Integrity Project filed a rulemaking petition with the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) in October 2024, asking the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to increase minimum setback distances from fracking wells. This October marks two years since the petition was filed. Minimum setbacks, also referred to as protective buffers and no-drill zones in the context of fracking, are mandatory distances that fracking companies must abide by to keep fracking operations separated from homes, schools, hospitals, drinking water wells, and surface water.
“Pennsylvanians are frustrated with politics that seem to work against our cries for a better environment and better health,” said Lauren Otero, Staff Attorney at Clean Air Council. “This is a simple step forward, yet we wait years for our Commonwealth to help us.”
“Nothing has given me more hope than watching communities all across Pennsylvania come together, speaking out against the predatory and parasitic companies looking to pollute our homes and exploit our natural resources,” said Katie Weber, who helped form grassroots group, Protect Burgettstown. “We are united and our message is clear: We do not want data centers. And we do not want fracking anywhere near our homes, schools, or daycares.”
“Pennsylvania can do their part to protect Pennsylvania citizens with far more protective setbacks between fracking activities, people and water,” said Kurt Limbach, a member of Concerned Residents of Western PA and Mountain Watershed Association. “It could also do its part by conducting a thorough review of any air permits to potentially massive polluters like the Homer City fracked gas power plant. The Pennsylvania constitution guarantees the rights of Pennsylvania citizens to clean air and water. Our citizens should not be forced to live in a sacrifice zone to power AI. “
“Too many Pennsylvania families are being harmed by fracking and drilling right next to their homes, schools, and daycare centers,” said Lisa Graves Marcucci, Pennsylvania Coordinator of Community Outreach for the Environmental Integrity Project. “We need protective buffers now. The current 500-foot minimum setback distance was never based on any public health information. And Pennsylvania’s inaction has put more communities at risk each day. Since we filed our Petition for Rulemaking on October 22, 2024, at least 784 new fracking wells have been drilled with only a 500-foot setback required to protect nearby Pennsylvanians. We urge the Shapiro Administration and the Environmental Quality Board to act now to increase minimum setback distances.”
