As The Morning Call reported, Pennsylvania lawmakers had their first day back in Harrisburg on Tuesday in an effort to gear up some measure of compromise on the natural gas, or fracking industry, in the Keystone State. However, as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported a number of groups are calling for the current dueling legislative bills to be scrapped and have the state government begin with a fresh set of regulations. As the Post-Gazette report indicated, many of those groups were on hand for the return of legislators and chanted in the Capitol Rotunda.
What is the reason groups want the government to start over?
According to WITF.org, one common issue many groups have with the current pieces of legislation making the rounds through the state House and Senate is the stipulation that local municipalities are essentially stripped of the ability to regulate drilling companies. As the report indicates, the current proposals allow the drilling companies to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office, and that office, which is taxpayer funded, then evaluates the complaint to override the local government.
How do the two bills differ?
According to a report from The Morning Call, the most significant differences between the bills approved by the House and Senate have to do with the impact fee placed on a per well basis. As the report states, who gets the money and how much to charge are key issues that need hammered out. Plus, the article also mentions environmental requirements, such as set-back ordinances, that could be potential roadblocks as well.
What other concerns to environmental groups have?
As a report from the Patriot-News identifies, the current bills would allow gas drilling within 500 feet of homes and hospitals, plus allow gas wells within 300 feet of waterways. The Patriot-News report also mentions an issue with the bonding fee paid by drilling companies to cover the cost of plugging wells. As the article suggests, the fee currently sits at $10,000 while it can cost as much as ten times that, which could leave taxpayers on the hook for the balance. In addition, Essential Public Radio reports that environmental groups would like to see drilling regulations modernized.
What is the proposed date for Marcellus Shale legislation to make it to the governor's desk?
Parties involved with the closed door Republican negotiations on the bill are hopeful that Marcellus Shale legislation can be passed by the time Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett delivers his budget address on February 7, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Jason Gallagher is a long-time Pennsylvania resident. He has experiences in trends and developments in many regions from having lived in many parts of the Keystone State, and currently resides in the Pittsburgh Area.
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