House Bill 1950 contains a uniform, statewide county-adopted drilling impact fee and a set of more than a dozen additional environmental protection measures. In addition, the bill contains a transfer of monies from the DCNR Oil and Gas Fund to the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund. (Click Here for bill summary. Click Here for revenue distribution.)
If all the Marcellus counties adopted the drilling fee, the fee would raise about $180.5 million in 2011 and $211.1 million in 2012 and revenue would increase to about $355 million in 2015. (Click Here for revenue projections.)
"This new industry has brought economic growth and jobs, but it has also brought new challenges," said Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), prime sponsor of a Senate Marcellus Shale bill. "The most important issue in this whole conversation is the protection of our natural resources and the communities where drilling takes place. I believe we can have the jobs that this new industry brings, and we can still protect our environment in a balanced way.
"This new industry has brought economic growth and jobs, but it has also brought new challenges," said Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), prime sponsor of a Senate Marcellus Shale bill. "The most important issue in this whole conversation is the protection of our natural resources and the communities where drilling takes place. I believe we can have the jobs that this new industry brings, and we can still protect our environment in a balanced way.
"This legislation will help communities in the Marcellus Shale region provide for reasonable local zoning parameters and implement strong environmental protections. Drillers will pay their fair share, and that revenue will help our state and its citizens as this industry continues to grow.
"Local governments will retain their traditional powers to provide for local zoning and regulation, and we can, at the same time provide for the development of natural gas and the jobs and opportunities that this industry brings.
"The Marcellus Shale industry is here to stay in Pennsylvania – bringing us jobs, huge economic benefits and the potential for energy independence," Sen. Scarnati said. "It makes sense to impose a reasonable impact fee on the industry to provide the funding necessary to further protect our natural resources, particularly at a time when our state is being forced to stretch our tax dollars."
Reaction
The Renew Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and environmental organizations in the Commonwealth, issued the following statement from Executive Director Andrew Heath, expressing support for the environmental funding outlined in the current Marcellus Shale impact fee proposal:
“At first glance, this proposal appears to be a good first step toward restoring funding for the Environmental Stewardship Fund and supporting Growing Greener programs and projects that protect our drinking water, conserve our open space, enhance recreational opportunities and stimulate economic recovery across the Commonwealth.
“We commend the General Assembly and the Governor for recognizing the importance of Growing Greener, which has transformed Pennsylvania by empowering communities to preserve working farms and conserve special places, clean up rivers and streams, improve parks and trails, maintain our heritage areas, and revitalize cities and towns."
The PA Association of Conservation Districts Tuesday issued the following statement in response to the Marcellus Shale Local Impact Fee (House Bill 1950) that passed the Senate.
"Today, Pennsylvania's Senate made an important and historic investment in our environment, communities and our citizens," said Robert B. Maiden, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. "The action taken by the Senate today to pass the local impact fee should be applauded by citizens and communities around the state. PACD appreciates the commitment of the Senate, especially Sen. Scarnati, to ensure that Pennsylvania’s environment and communities are protected and safeguarded for generations to come. We look forward to the House of Representatives passing this important bill for the future of conservation in Pennsylvania."
The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Monday wrote to members of the House and Senate saying they supported the compromise Marcellus Shale bill.
"The bill includes provisions counties have sought, including meaningful revenues and a meaningful local share, a workable levy and administrative mechanism, the distribution formula we have sought, allowable uses that meet the broad and divergent needs of impacted counties and their municipalities, additional funding to counties from state shares to provide for bridge repair and replacement and for greenways, and allocation of funding proceeds statewide to conservation districts and some environmental programs."
Matthew J. Ehrhart, Pennsylvania Executive Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and a member of the Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, Monday issued the following statement in response to the final Marcellus bill being voted out of conference committee.
“House Bill 1950 represents a tremendous step forward for the Commonwealth in managing current and future drilling operations in the Marcellus Shale formation. This bill combines the best of the environmental protection provisions from both Senate Bill 1100 and House Bill 1950, and improved upon them. The result is a package that while not perfect, will help protect Pennsylvania’s environment.
“This bill is the only option we have to increase protections to the environment and our communities. CBF supports much of the proposed language of House Bill 1950, and encourages the General Assembly to work together to pass this legislation.
“We are encouraged by the attention paid to increased environmental protections. Specifically, the Bill would provide: protective setbacks from wells, public drinking supplies, structures, streams, and wetlands over one acre; post-construction management plans; floodplain protections; water management plans; for required erosion & sediment inspection before drilling can begin; for required best management practices for chemical storage; standards for drill-site containment practices; clear authorization to DEP for the management and oversight of wells; and increased fines and bonding.
“The Bill also provides tremendous financial resources to the Growing Greener program and other environmental interests such as water infrastructure, sewer infrastructure, and watershed projects. CBF does, however, believe that a significantly higher impact fee is warranted.
“There are a few issues that were left out of this legislation and that we will work to resolve. These include: a more inclusive definition of water and water bodies; required disclosure of fracking chemicals for all drilling operations, not only unconventional wells; and requiring complete public disclosure of waste water manifesting."
Paul King, President of the PA Environmental Council, issued this statement in reaction to the Marcellus Shale bill conference committee report:
"The enemy of the good is the perfect, and while this legislation is not perfect, the people of Pennsylvania are better served by passage of this bill now than to wait another year or longer for something stronger.
"The Pennsylvania Environmental Council has worked hard over the past two years to identify the critical policy issues for effectively regulating development of the Marcellus Shale gas industry. PEC has released a series of reports and legislative proposals, containing more than 40 specific policy recommendations, several of which are now law. We are pleased that many of the environmental protection measures contained in this bill match those recommended by PEC, and represent a meaningful step forward: including greater well site setback and containment standards, enhanced inspection and reporting requirements, and greater protection for water resources and drinking water supplies.
"However, this legislation comes up short on several key issues, including complete enhanced public disclosure of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluids, as well as automatic reporting to the Department of Environmental Protection on wastewater handling and disposal.
"Additionally, PEC remains concerned with the limitations this bill imposes on the rights of local governments in managing drilling activities in their own jurisdictions. We believe that local government should retain a degree of authority to enact additional controls when specific, local circumstances warrant.
"This legislation would take an important first step toward ensuring safe development of natural gas in Pennsylvania by incorporating many of the recommendations of the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission. But this is only the first step; much more work remains to be done to ensure that the growth of this industry is truly an asset for all of Pennsylvania’s citizens and our environment.
"We look forward to working with the General Assembly and the administration, particularly DEP, in advancing implementation of other PEC recommendations through the legislative and regulatory process."
More Marcellus Shale Bill Details
Here are several more details of the provisions in House Bill 1950.
Drilling Fee: The drilling impact fee is a true compromise between proposals by the Senate and the Governor. It would set a uniform statewide per well fee, but one adopted by each county in the Marcellus Shale area and collected by the Public Utility Commission. In addition, the per well fee would increase if the price of natural gas increases.
The fee would start at $40,000 per well dropping to $5,000 in year 11 if the price of natural gas is up to $2.25 per thousand cubic fee. At the upper end of the fee schedule, the fee would increase to $60,000 per well dropping to $10,000 per well if the price of natural gas is $6 or more per MCF.
If county commissioners fail to adopt the fee, there is a provision allow municipalities to adopt resolutions supporting a fee and if half the municipalities or municipalities representing at least half of the county's population adopt fee resolutions a county-wide impact fee would be adopted.
The PUC is also authorized to adjust the fee based on the Consumer Price Index.
Local Regulation: Local regulation of drilling and related natural gas development facilities by local governments would have to occur within a prescribed set of requirements specified in the compromise language. The Public Utility Commission is given the authority to determine if a local ordinance complies with the requirements prior to enactment. Local governments that adopt their own fee or an ordinance in violation of the new act would not be eligible to receive funding from the state fee.
Click Here for bill summary. Click Here for revenue distribution. Click Here for revenue projections.