Scrapbook Photo 03/25/24 - 93 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3729bhvv
Other Industry, Legislative, Group Reactions To Marcellus Commission Report

There were a variety of other groups, legislators and industry reactions to the Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission final report released Friday. Here's a sampling--

Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) & Tim Soloby (D-Washington): “We were supposed to address this issue before we left town last month. We had a bill with bipartisan support on third consideration in the Senate,” said Sen. Solobay. “How long are we going to put this off?”
            Sen. Solobay argued that an extra week would give legislators more than sufficient time to pass a gas-drilling impact fee and address any issues raised by the Marcellus Shale Commission.
             “Our dance card is filling up quickly for fall. If the recent past is any indication, this issue is going to get pushed to the back burner again. The legislature doesn’t exactly have a good track record when it comes to multi-tasking,” said Sen. Solobay. “We are long overdue to get this done and need to give this issue our undivided attention.”
            Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) supported Sen. Solobay’s call for action. “We are willing to move on this at a moment’s notice. We put in an eleventh hour push to get this passed right before the stroke of midnight on July 1. We are eagerly awaiting progress on this issue, and I think Sen. Solobay’s idea is a good one,” said Sen. Costa.
            The final report of the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission is due to be completed this week, and the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission will follow on its heels. A third commission, addressing privatization of state assets, will start work soon.  The Senate is not currently scheduled to return from its recess until Sept. 19.
            “There’s no reason to wait that long,” Sen. Solobay said. “There is legislation cued up and ready to go. The Marcellus commission gave us their input. Let’s give this issue the attention it deserves and get this done.”

PA Assn. Of Conservation Districts: “This recommendation just makes sense,” said MaryAnn Warren, President of the PA Association of Conservation Districts. “The staff at the conservation districts possess the expertise, local knowledge and familiarity with the regulations, as well as understand the importance of erosion and sediment control to provide an extra layer of environmental protection during the exploration and drilling of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale.”
            If implemented, the recommendation by the Commission would reverse a prior decision that removed the responsibility from the conservation districts to provide oversight of E&S control to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. This change was made by the department in 2009 to add E&S control oversight as part of the agency’s on-site inspections.
            “The county conservation districts are poised and ready to once again provide the E&S control inspection responsibility,” said Robert B. Maiden, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. “The local office staff is out in the field everyday and can provide this important piece of our environmental protection responsibilities.”
            “We look forward to pursuing this recommendation further with our partners at the Department of Environmental Protection,” Maiden added. “When it comes to protecting our natural resources, we believe we can continue to work hand-in-hand with DEP and provide them with additional, local presence on these sites.” 
            Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control regulations require that anyone engaged in an earthmoving activity, such as site development at a natural gas drilling site, implement control measures to prevent or minimize accelerated soil erosion and the resulting sediment pollution. In addition to other environmental hazards, sediment pollution in streams can harm fish and other aquatic life, damages water supplies, exacerbates flooding, and causes property damage.

PA State Assn. Of Township Supervisors: The Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors has been asking lawmakers to impose an impact fee on natural gas drillers and deliver much of the revenue to municipalities dealing with the side effects of the growing industry.
            In recent weeks, the Association has also urged Harrisburg to keep land use decision making where it belongs: at the local level.
            Now, it’s one step closer to those goals.
            On Friday, the state’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, a group of 30 government and natural gas industry leaders, delivered its final report to Gov. Tom Corbett. Among the 96 recommendations, the commission unanimously supported an impact fee, saying that it would help communities on the front lines cover the costs of roads and bridges, emergency response, fire and police protection, public water and sewer systems, natural resource oversight, and permit review and enforcement, to name a few.
            The Commission also agreed that the state should maintain local land use controls that are reasonable and based on common sense.
            PSATS Executive Director David M. Sanko served on the commission and applauded the hard work of his colleagues.
            “We were tasked with coming up with a common-sense blueprint for Pennsylvania’s future that demonstrates that we have learned from our past (coal, timber, and steel expansions). And with an eye to the future, the commission crafted a balanced, smart, and safe plan for Pennsylvania that protects our precious natural resources (air, water, and land), helps spur economic development and job creation, makes us an energy player, reduces our national dependence on foreign oil, and imposes tougher civil and criminal penalties on violators,” Sanko said.
            “Most important, though, the report recognizes the significant role that local government plays in preserving Pennsylvania’s quality of life,” he added. “By embracing a local impact fee, the commission is helping to avoid potential property tax increases. At the same time, the commission endorsed the preservation of local common-sense zoning over a state-mandated, ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution. This ensures that our local leaders and citizens maximize the benefits of natural gas exploration and minimize the negative impacts.”
            Since its formation in May, the commission has held five public hearings and 16 public work group meetings, heard testimony from 100 citizens, and received more than 600 emails and letters.
            “Many ideas, including those from people of all walks of life and previously introduced legislative proposals, have been incorporated into this ‘next-step’ document that sets the stage for a final solution to be crafted by the governor and legislature for the benefit of Pennsylvania’s future,” Sanko said.
            In addition to praising the commission’s work, Sanko also recognized those lawmakers, including Sen. Joe Scarnti, who in recent months have introduced legislation to address the impact of drilling on the state’s land and water. Scarnati, for instance, developed Senate Bill 1100, which would impose an impact fee on drillers and comes the closest to addressing the commission’s overall recommendations, Sanko said.
            “Along the way, the natural gas industry has done its part, too: In particular, it has spent millions of dollars rebuilding and improving local roads,” he said. “This is an exciting new chapter for Pennsylvania, and I’m confident that we are headed in the right direction.”

County Commissioners Association of PA: "The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania appreciates the work in which the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission has engaged the past few months to address issues related to Marcellus Shale drilling," said Douglas E. Hill, CCAP Executive Director. "The Commission and its subcommittees offered numerous opportunities for input about the concerns counties have with Marcellus Shale drilling and the impacts facing local communities where drilling is taking place.
            "The Commission’s report appropriately recognizes the broad diversity of these impacts, including infrastructure, health and human services, environmental impacts, housing, criminal justice, public safety, landowner concerns and emergency management. In addition, the Commission recommends an impact fee based on its finding that many of these impacts are uncompensated. This is consistent with the Association’s policy position to seek revenues from restoration of property tax assessability of natural gas (lost to a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision in 2002), or through  a severance tax or an impact fee, to  mitigate the burden on local property taxpayers for increases in county services and expenditures generated by industry activities.
            "The Association also appreciates recommendations that address two of CCAP’s 2011 legislative priorities regarding pipeline safety and emergency preparedness in addition to conservation district involvement in erosion and sedimentation permitting. These recommendations recognize counties’ commitment to protecting public and environmental safety, and that certain tools will help counties assure local resource issues and community objectives are prioritized.
            "The Association thanks Lycoming Commissioner Jeff Wheeland, who served on the Commission as vice chair of the subcommittee on Local Impact and Emergency Response, for his work and for his representation of the impacts facing all counties with Marcellus Shale drilling.
CCAP is the voice of county government, a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan Association representing all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. CCAP membership includes the county commissioners, council members, county executives, administrators, chief clerks and solicitors.
            "CCAP strengthens the counties’ abilities to govern their own affairs and to improve the well-being and quality of life for every Pennsylvania resident. CCAP is celebrating its 125th Anniversary in 2011.

Associated Petroleum Industries of PA: "Evidence continues to mount that the U.S. has an abundant and reliable domestic supply of clean-burning domestic natural gas that can lead to more affordable energy and stimulate the economy," API-PA Executive Director Rolf Hanson said. 
            API is reviewing the recommendations as part of our on-going effort for continuous improvement of oil and natural gas operations.  Hanson added that API's Monogram Program provides assurance through robust certification processes that manufacturers of equipment and materials meet the requirements for manufacturing quality. Through these programs, the industry has led the way in enhancing safety since 1924.
            "We agree with the Commission that well construction materials, like casing and cement, have to meet high standards, and API's own standards set the bar high for the design and construction of shale gas wells and facilities. Natural gas can be developed safely, and not only does it provide clean energy, it is already having a big impact on local economies, jobs, and energy security."
            A third in a series of studies offering additional findings on the positive economic impact of Marcellus Shale development in Pennsylvania was released this week by the Marcellus Shale Coalition. The Penn State study, "The Pennsylvania Marcellus Natural Gas Industry: Status, Economic Impact, and Future Potential" adds to the available economic data released by API one year ago, analyzing "The Economic Impacts of the Marcellus Shale: Implications for New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia."
            "As we debate the future of energy production and how best to increase jobs and energy security, the nation can look to Pennsylvania, which now produces enough natural gas to meet its own demand," said Hanson. "With the right government policies, Pennsylvania and other states with access to these abundant domestic shale plays can become principal suppliers of natural gas nationwide.
            API thanked the Commission, which includes Commission Chair, Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, and the Governor's Energy Executive Patrick Henderson, for thoroughly reviewing of the science of hydraulic fracturing, impacts to communities, environmental protection, economic development opportunities and the need for infrastructure development. 
            "We understand that this is a long process and API looks forward to working with the legislature, governor's office and regulatory agencies as we continue to work on the safe and responsible development of our natural gas resources."

PA Budget and Policy Center: “We are disappointed by today’s report. The commission has missed a golden opportunity to look at the broad impacts of Marcellus Shale drilling — both positive and negative," said Sharon Ward, Director of the Center.  "Instead, it has made recommendations that read like an industry wish list.
            “The commission favors a local impact fee on drilling but limits its scope to demonstrated impacts. No other state structures it drilling tax or fee that way. It would be an administrative burden for many local governments in Pennsylvania, especially those in less populous counties.
            “The commission also misses a real opportunity to consider how the state can support Marcellus Shale drilling in a way that boosts other industries, like steel, concrete and the service industries. Instead, it asks taxpayers to pay for incentives to create new markets for natural gas. This should not be the taxpayers’ responsibility.
            “Finally, this report fails to honestly address the broader statewide impacts from drilling, including air quality, water contamination, societal impacts and habitat disruption. Without this discussion, the report is incomplete.”

7/25/2011

Go To Preceding Article     Go To Next Article

Return to This PA Environment Digest's Main Page