U.S. Sen. Bob Casey said a hearing he is leading today is aimed at developing rules and procedures so crews are not always reacting to blowouts and explosions at gas and oil wells.

The hearing at the federal courthouse, Downtown, was prompted by a recent spate of blowouts, including one at a well in the Marcellus Shale well in Clearfield County.

Mr. Casey, in comments to reporters before this morning's hearing, said the 16-hour response time to cap the well was unacceptable.

"We need procedures already in place, rather than just [reacting to] problems as they occur to protect workers, communities and the environment," he said.

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