§3226. Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board.

(a) Creation of board.--The Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board is created, consisting of the following members, all of whom shall be chosen by the Governor and shall be residents of this Commonwealth:

(1) Three individuals, each of whom shall be:

(i) a petroleum engineer;

(ii) a petroleum geologist; or

(iii) an experienced driller representative of the oil and gas industry with three years of experience in this Commonwealth.

(2) One mining engineer from the coal industry with three years of experience in this Commonwealth.

(3) One geologist or petroleum engineer with three years of experience in this Commonwealth, who shall be chosen from a list of three names submitted by the Citizens Advisory Council to the Governor and who shall sit as a representative of the public interest.

(b) Reimbursement.--Board members shall not receive a salary but shall be reimbursed for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(c) Majority vote.--All actions of the board shall be by majority vote. The board shall meet as called by the secretary, but not less than semiannually, to carry out its duties under this chapter. The board shall select a chairman and other officers deemed appropriate.

(d) Consultation.--The department shall consult with the board in the formulation, drafting and presentation stages of all regulations of a technical nature promulgated under this chapter. The board shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on all regulations of a technical nature prior to submission to the Environmental Quality Board for initial consideration. The written report of the board shall be presented to the Environmental Quality Board with any regulatory proposal. The chairman of the board shall be invited to participate in the presentation of all regulations of a technical nature before the Environmental Quality Board to the extent allowed by procedures of the Environmental Quality Board. Nothing herein shall preclude any member of the board from filing a petition for rulemaking with the Environmental Quality Board in accordance with procedures established by the Environmental Quality Board.