HARRISBURG — A set of proposed regulations designed to improve the safety of drilling into the Marcellus Shale natural gas reserve has the approval of a Pennsylvania state government board.

The Environmental Quality Board voted today to update regulations that govern well construction and water use to address deeper and higher pressure shale drilling.

Before the Marcellus Shale boom began, Pennsylvania's gas industry historically had drilled lower-pressure wells into shallow sand formations.

The proposal still needs approval from the Independent Regulatory Review Commission and legislative committees.

The regulations would lower the maximum allowable well pressures, raise standards for well cement and pipes, and require drilling companies to restore water supplies they pollute.

The Department of Environmental Protection wrote the proposal. An industry group, the Marcellus Shale Coalition, supports it.