Pennsylvania House Chair

Safety, Legislature consume meeting on Marcellus Shale

Health and environmental concerns, and the failure of the state Legislature to pass a severance tax or impact fee on Marcellus Shale drilling to fund local governments and schools, dominated testimony Tuesday at a Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee hearing in Waynesburg, Greene County.

Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, who co-chaired the hearing in Waynesburg Central High School with Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, said a shale gas severance tax and impact fee legislation will be a focus of House Democrats in the fall, despite opposition from Republicans who control the Legislature and governor's office.

Gov. Tom Corbett has said he will not support a severance tax, but a Marcellus Shale Advisory Committee appointed by the governor recently recommended enactment of an impact fee on drilling operations.

"I wanted the committee to get the gut feelings for the dramatic impact that Marcellus Shale is having in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania," Mr. DeWeese said after the 21/2-hour hearing attended by about 200 people. "We will be howling like the hounds of hell stressing this issue come September."

While many of the speakers acknowledged the positive economic impact of Marcellus Shale operations, most also said the industry isn't paying its share to cover increased costs incurred by municipalities, counties and school districts, and lamented the drilling boom's impact on residents whose property values and health have declined.

Pamela Snyder, chair of the Greene County commissioners, said the county benefits economically from the 40 Marcellus Shale gas wells already drilled there but the industrial-scale drilling activity has damaged roads and bridges; caused a housing shortage; strained law enforcement, emergency and fire services; and impacted water supplies.

Noise levels around gas line compressor stations is driving down property values, she said.

"We're in need of state regulatory power and environmental protection," Ms. Snyder said. "We [in Greene County] don't have the resources or revenue stream to keep up with all the impacts.

"Marcellus Shale drilling is dramatically impacting this part of the state, and we need to be ready to control that growth and its impacts. We need to find a way to let the industry operate here but make it work for us."

State Rep. Richard Mirabito, D-Lycoming, said an impact fee "only gets us back to where we were before the damage occurred." But, he said, a severance tax compensates residents of the commonwealth for all local, regional and statewide impacts and "puts us ahead.

PA House Appropriations Chair Bill Adolph (R-165th) Co-Sponsors HB ...

The funds generated from this fee will help cover the expenses associated with the impact this industry has on our environment and infrastructure.  The legislation would distribute the funds generated from the fee by allocating 55 percent to local governments and Conservation Districts, 25 percent to environmental purposes including Growing Greener, and 20 percent to the Motor License Fund for road and infrastructure projects. Nearly $370 Million will be directed to environmental clean-up efforts over the next 5 years. Harrisburg PA 17120

Dear Rep. Adolph,

Please vote NO on Senate Bill 1100 introduced by Senate President Joe Scarnati should it come to the House or Senate floor. We oppose SB1100 because it would trade the rights of citizens and local governments for drilling fees and taxes. A democratic society supports local decision-making. Pennsylvania’s citizens must be able to have input into the laws and practices that affect them and municipal officials must be able to represent their constituents.

Furthermore:

Pennsylvania’s Municipalities Planning Code gives municipalities the authority to address matters influencing local environmental protection and preservation. With the passage of SB1100, our municipalities will lose that authority. The State Constitution obliges municipalities to be “stewards of public resources” applicable to the impacts of industrial-scale gas development on water and air quality, land and communities. Pennsylvania’s Oil and Gas Act allows the use of municipal zoning codes to restrict the location of gas wells similar to how zoning can be used to restrict every other type of economic activity. The PUC ordinance promoted through SB1100 would require municipalities to allow oil and gas development in certain zoning districts and prohibit most restrictions on traffic, noise, light, and hours of operation. This forces cash-strapped local governments to choose between receiving revenues and adopting protective measures, and punishes those that choose the latter.

Please stand up for Pennsylvanians and do not support this bill.

Liz R.. KeepTapWaterSafe.org

Note: this email was sent as part of a petition started on Change.org, viewable at www.change.org/petitions/do-not-let-corporate-gas-drillers-trump-local-rights-of-pennsylvanians-say-no-to-sb-1100.