Rep. Vitali Announces Bill To Keep Oil & Gas Fund Revenues For DCNR Use

Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and leaders of statewide environmental groups Thursday urged Gov. Corbett not to use the Oil and Gas Lease fund to balance the Commonwealth budget.

The groups also voiced their support for legislation introduced by Rep. Vitali-- House Bill 1500-- that would require the Oil and Gas Lease Fund to be used exclusively for conservation, recreation, dams or flood control projects-- sponsor summary.

"Revenue from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund comes from development of state lands," said Rep. Vitali. "That development in many cases diminished the value of that land. The purpose of the fund is to serve as a counterbalance to that diminishment by providing money for projects that enhance the value of state lands."

At his Capitol news conference, held less than a week before Corbett will give his annual budget address, Vitali discussed his legislation. He was joined by representatives of several environmental organizations who said Vitali's bill is important to ensure the future of state parks and forests.

"House Bill 1500 would finally put an end to the practice of using funds intended for conservation and environmental programs for operating expenses that should come from the General Fund," said Joanne Kilgour, director of the Pennsylvania Sierra Club. "Our valued public lands are strained by the burden of resource development, and the commonwealth cannot afford to continue undermining conservation efforts that would help to preserve these shared spaces for future generations."

"House Bill 1500 is a first step to ensure that all of us, as well as future generations of Pennsylvanians, will be able to live in a commonwealth that appreciates and understands the true value of its woodlands," said Ralph Kisberg from the Responsible Drilling Alliance.

Former DCNR Secretaries John Quigley and Richard J. Allan have both noted the $1 billion backlog of infrastructure projects in state parks and forests. These projects include the replacement of high hazard dams, the repair and maintenance of roads and bridges, and water and sewer projects.

Because so much of the Oil and Gas Lease Fund is being used to run DCNR, there is insufficient money in the fund to address these infrastructure needs.

Rep. Vitali said in the 2013-14 fiscal year DCNR received $106 million from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund, up from $69 million in the previous budget. In addition to taking away needed funds, the use of the fund creates a conflict of interest for DCNR, Rep. Vitali said.

"There's an inherent conflict of interest when an agency whose mission is conservation has to promote extraction to fund itself," Rep. Vitali said.

While assuring the money would be used for conservation, Vitali's bill would restore DCNR's exclusive authority to make disbursements from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund. It also would replace transfers from that fund to the Environmental Stewardship Fund and the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund with transfers from the Unconventional Gas Well Fund.

Also speaking at the news conference were PennEnvironment Field Director Adam Garber, Clean Water Action Central Pennsylvania Campaign Coordinator Nathan Sooy, PennFuture Vice President and COO John Norbeck and Dick Martin from the Pennsylvania Forest Coalition.

NewsClips:

Finding Right Home For Oil & Gas Revenue

Where’s DCNR’s $6 Million Marcellus Monitoring Report?

Gamesa Wind Turbine Plant, Touted By Rendell, McGinty Closing


2/3/2014

Go To Preceding Article     Go To Next Article

Return to This PA Environment Digest's Main Page