Corbett stares down PA lawmakers on gas-drilling fees

PA Governor Tom Corbett

Pennsylvania’s Republican majority legislators, who have been working to adopt natural gas impact fees in conjunction with the state’s budget legislation, abandoned that plan yesterday after Governor Tom Corbett made it clear that he’d veto any legislation containing the fees.

Corbett, who has been a hardline supporter of the natural gas industry (which helped fund his election campaign last year), said he would not consider any fees on natural gas wells until the Marcellus Shale commission, that he appointed, submits its report next month on the effects of drilling.

The Republican governor was unequivocal in his stance.

“I have sent this message back: If something gets to my desk, it will be vetoed,” he said.

For more, see today’s Morning Call story: Debate on gas drillers’ impact fee put off

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Winning hearts and minds of six-year-olds–for fracking

Hi boys and girls. Meet Tailsman Terry, the Friendly Fracosaurus.

He’s going to tell you all about the wonderful world of fracking.

It’s healthy. It’s patriotic. And best of all it’s fun.

Have your parent or older brother or sister read the fun story of fracking to you as you use your crayons to color in the pictures of happy drilling sites.

See the happy trees and animals and the smiling sun.

Look at the happy trucks and pipelines that you may get to see when Tailsman Terry and his friends start getting energy from the ground near you.

Hey, look, there’s a mom and dad smiling with a man from the fracking company who just got permission to drill on your property.

And isn’t it great that everything will be put back nice and clean and happy when they’re all done? 

What? You don’t have the Friendly Fracosaurus Coloring Book?  Don’t worry, little friend. You can get one for free at the next community picnic or your mom or dad can use their computer to get one just for you.

So, get those crayons ready and have a happy fracking day.

NOTE TO GROWNUPS: For more information on the gas industry’s educational campaign for kids, check out Color Me Fracked in today’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

 
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Marcellus Shale sites included in EPA fracking study

The Environmental Protection Agency announced today that drilling sites in Pennsylvania’s Washington, Bradford and Susquehanna counties are among the locations selected for a nationwide study of hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
EPA says the sites identified were selected following extensive input from stakeholders, including the public, local and state officials, industry, and environmental organizations.

The agency said it will begin field work in some of the selected regions this summer. 

Prospective and Retrospective Studies

The Marcellus Shae in Washington County, PA was one of two sites selected for prospective case studies where EPA will monitor key aspects of the hydraulic fracturing process throughout the life cycle of a well.  The second case study will focus on the Haynesville Shale in DeSoto Parish, La.

Five retrospective case studies were selected and will examine areas where hydraulic fracturing has occurred for any impact on drinking water resources. The Pennsylvania locations chosen for this portion of the study are in Bradford, Susquehanna and Washington counties.  The other locations are in North Dakota, Texas and Colorado. 

EPA says the information gathered will be part of an approach which includes literature review, collection of data and information from states, industry and communities, laboratory work and computer modeling.

“The combination of these materials will allow us to do a more comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, ” the agency said in a news release. “The study will continue to use the best available science, independent sources of information, and will be conducted using a transparent, peer-reviewed process, to better understand any impacts associated with hydraulic fracturing.”  


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PA bill requires disclosure of chemicals in fracking fluid

A Philadelphia Democrat has introduced legislation in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that would require natural gas drilling companies to disclose to state environmental regulators all chemicals used in the hydrofracturing (fracking) process.

The bill, HB 1680 , introduced on June 19 by Rep. Kenyatta Johnson, requires the disclosure to the state Department of Environmental Protection the names of chemicals (but not the proprietary chemical formulas) used in the fracking process. 

The legislation requires the DEP to make the information available to the public on its website.

Disclosure of chemical formulas in cases of health emergencies

The bill also would require the disclosure of “proprietary chemical formula or the specific chemical identity of a trade secret chemical used in hydraulic fracturing: “in the event that the DEP or an appropriate health care provider determines that a medical emergency exists and such disclosure is necessary for emergency or first aid treatment.” 

In a news release, Johnson said that hundreds of chemicals are used during this fracking process, “many of which can be harmful to people if they are absorbed into the ground and eventually into our water supply.”

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Amended Marcellus gas tax in place for PA Senate vote

Pennsylvania moved a step closer to assessing a fee on shale gas drillers yesterday, but Senate lawmakers supporting the levy say still have changes to make to the legislation before a final floor vote is taken.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports  that the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee yesterday amended and voted unanimously to release S-1100. The bill would charge drillers an initial $40,000 fee per gas well. Changes approved by the committee raised the fee’s initial cost, and also tweaked how that revenue is doled out. 
[Copy of the amended legislation] 

It’s the first tax or fee on natural gas drilling that has cleared a Senate committee, since former Gov. Ed Rendell first urged creation of a severance tax two years ago.

Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, who introduced the impact fee bill, said after the committee vote that he supported the changes that have been made thus far and pointed to public pressure on lawmakers as an impetus to approve it with the state budget this month.

A new Quinnipiac University poll shows 69 percent of Pennsylvanians supporting a tax on drillers to help balance the state budget. The support was highest in the drilling-free southeast, where 77 percent of respondents backed the levy. But it was still strong in the southwest, with 72 percent in favor, and in Allegheny County, with 68 percent.

Quinnipiac Poll excerpt:

To help balance the state budget do you support or oppose – a new tax on companies drilling for natural gas in the state’s Marcellus Shale? 

Union
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    HsHlds



Support              69%    59%    75%    75%    73%    66%    76%
Oppose               24     33     17     21     24     23     20
DK/NA                 7      8      8      4      3     11      3


                     Alghny Philly NthEst SthEst NthWst SthWst Cntrl



Support              68%    61%    67%    77%    62%    72%    70%
Oppose               28     23     26     19     29     24     23
DK/NA                 4     16      8      5      9      5      6



 


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PADEP chief laments “radicalization” of drilling debate




 


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NJ bill restricting wind turbines set for June 20 hearing
		

					

					

				











Environmental legislation that would prohibit the siting of industrial wind turbines within 2,000 feet of any residence or residential-zone property is scheduled for a hearing on June 20 in Trenton before the state’s Senate Environment Committee.







 According to co-sponsors, Senators Sean Kean and Andrew Ciesla, both Monmouth County Republicans,  S-2374, is necessary to ensure that the increased use of wind energy in the State “will not cause a significant obstruction of scenic views or reduction in home values for New Jersey residents, and, more importantly, will not cause New Jersey residents to suffer from the ill health effects associated with “wind turbine syndrome.” 






The legislation states that “wind turbine syndrome” has been connected with “the close placement of industrial-scale wind turbines to residential areas.” 


Symptoms, it says, include “sleep disturbance, headaches, ringing of the ears, ear pressure, dizziness, vertigo, nausea, visual blurring, racing heartbeat, irritability, problems with memory and concentration, and panic episodes accompanied by internal pulsation or quivering.” 






These maladies, the sponsors contend, “often force people to move away from their homes.”






The bill applies to onshore or off-shore “industrial-strength wind structures” which, it says, “can be over 400 feet tall and have blades that sweep up to 1.5 acres in area.”  






The legislation’s restrictions would not apply to  the siting of small wind energy systems that are used primarily for on-site consumption purposes.  






The committee (see full agenda) will take up the bill  “for discussion only” (no vote) at 10 a.m., Monday, June 20, in Committee Room 10 on the third floor of the State House Annex

in Trenton.







 


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