The bills include--
NEW -- Unilateral Change To DRBC Voting: House Bill 2450 (Fritz-R-Wayne) proposes to unilaterally change the 1 state 1 vote now in the Delaware River Basin Commission compact to a system awarding votes based on the land area of each state in the Delaware Watershed. It would give Pennsylvania 6 votes, New Jersey 3 votes, New York 2 votes, Delaware 1 vote and the federal government 1 vote. This is another in a years-long attempt by Republicans to reverse the unconventional shale gas fracking moratorium adopted by the Commission in various forms starting in 2010. Obviously, unilateral changes to the DRBC compact don’t have any effect. That’s not how interstate compacts work. Any changes must be adopted by all member entities and approved by the U.S. Congress.
Note: 40 percent of the shale gas drilling permits issued by DEP have not been used in the remainder of the state [Read more here.] and 65 percent of the existing State Forest land shale gas leases have not been developed [Read more here.]. Seems like there’s a lot of slack in the industry already.
NEW -- Unilateral Change To DRBC Fracking Ban: House Bill 2451 (Fritz-R-Wayne) proposes to unilaterally change the Delaware River Basin Commission compact by including a provision that would reverse the unconventional shale gas fracking moratorium adopted by the Commission in various forms starting in 2010. Obviously, unilateral changes to the DRBC compact don’t have any effect. That’s not how interstate compacts work. Any changes must be adopted by all member entities and approved by the U.S. Congress.
Note: 40 percent of the shale gas drilling permits issued by DEP have not been used in the remainder of the state [Read more here.] and 65 percent of the existing State Forest land shale gas leases have not been developed [Read more here.]. Seems like there’s a lot of slack in the industry already.
NEW -- Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force: House Bill 2458 (White-R-Philadelphia) establishing a Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force to identify obstacles preventing the Port of Philadelphia from becoming an LNG export terminal and develop a plan on the issue.
NEW -- Expand PA Oil & Gas Infrastructure: House Resolution 189 (Metcalfe-R-Butler) resolution urging President, Congress to take measures to expand Pennsylvania’s and the country’s oil and gas infrastructure [oil and gas industry wish list].
-- End NY, NY Anti-Pipeline Policies: House Resolution 187 (Saylor-R-York) urging the Governors of New York and New Jersey to end anti-pipeline policies that block Pennsylvania natural gas from reaching markets in New England (sponsor summary).
-- Talking Away DEP’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Authority: Senate Bill 119 (Pittman-R- Indiana) taking away DEP’s statutory authority to adopt regulations to reduce carbon pollution from any source, including power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The legislation would kill the final RGGI regulations now pending for publication. It is a companion to House Bill 637 (Struzzi-R-Indiana) that is in the House Appropriations Committee.
The meeting will be held in Room 515 Irvis Office Building starting at 1:00 p.m. Click Here to watch live.
Committee Hearing
The Committee is also scheduled to hold a hearing on March 28 starting at 9:30 a.m. entitled - “Oil & Gas Byproducts - Could We Live Without Them?” Read more here.
Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-783-1707 or sending email to: dmetcalf@pahousegop.com. Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7647 or sending email to: gvitali@pahouse.net.
NewsClip:
-- Inquirer Editorial: Republicans In Harrisburg Are Using Ukraine To Promote A Climate-Denialist Agenda
Related Articles:
[Posted: March 25, 2022] PA Environment Digest
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