By a vote of 16 to 9, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee today reported out House Bill 2235 (Vitali-D-Delaware) which would impose a five year moratorium on leasing State Forest land for natural gas drilling.
All the Democratic members of the Committee voted for the bill and two Republicans-- Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) and Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming). Rep. Everett supported moving the bill saying leasing State Forest land may crowd out private landowners who want to lease their own land for drilling. He represents an area of the state with a lot of Marcellus Shale drilling activity.
Several other members of the Committee mentioned concerns with the bill, but acknowledged moving the legislation to the House floor was part of a deal to get State Forest leasing amendments withdrawn from consideration during the debate on the General Fund budget bill earlier in the week.
Rep. Bud George (D-Clearfield) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Minority Chair.
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