Poll: Fix Roads, Bridges, Adopt Natural Gas Extraction Tax

A new poll released today by Franklin & Marshall College asked participants to identify the most important problems the state should address: 54 percent-- adopt a plan to fix roads and bridges, 43 percent-- pass a tax on natural gas extraction, 39 percent-- adopt a tuition voucher plan, 30 percent-- change the way electoral votes are distributed, 17 percent-- selling state liquor stores.

Thursday NewsClips

Gas Well Fee Up To Counties Under House Bill
House Shale Bill Draws Ire From Dems
House Bill Would Allow Gas Drilling Fees, Regulations
PA House Panel Approves Natural Gas Drill Fee
County Impact Fee Gets Boost
Marcellus Industry Comment On House Fee Bill Action
Post-Vote Answers Stay Vague On House Drilling Fee Bill
Senate Deal On Shale Fee Postponed To November
Op-Ed: Use Marcellus Shale Royalties Wisely, For Conservation
Op-Ed: Is Marcellus Shale Pennsylvania's Savior?
DEP Secretary: Marcellus Is Blessing Under Our Feet
Mercyhurst Poll Offers Mixed Results On Marcellus Drilling
Gas Drillers' Supply Chain Drives Jobs
Benton Eases Conditions For Driller
Fayette's Just Fine For Latest Gas Firm
Marcellus Activity Impacts PA Airports
Fracking Safety Debated Amid Drilling Boom
Flood Insurance Claim Deadline Moves To Jan. 7
Nov. 15 Pittsburgh Faraday Demonstration
Trail Cleanup Slated In Taylor Saturday
Flight 93 Group To Ask For $10 Million
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

House Republicans Field Governor's Marcellus Proposals, Plus

House Republicans introduced their own drilling fee and Marcellus Shale environmental protection proposal-- House Bill 1950 (Ellis-R-Butler)-- Tuesday and just hours later on Wednesday the 127-page bill was reported out of the House Finance Committee by a vote of 15 to 10-- Republicans in favor, Democrats opposed.

The bill includes the county-adopted drilling fee proposed by Gov. Corbett and the additional environmental protection measures he announced in his Marcellus Shale proposal in October, including a blanket provision preempting local regulation of drilling as a land use.

As with the Governor's proposal, the money raised through the optional county drilling fees would be split between the local communities in which the fee is enacted and the Commonwealth, with 25 percent of the revenues going to the state and 75 percent remaining at the local level.

Of the state’s share, 70 percent would be used to fund road and bridge repairs related to well impacts. The remaining 30 percent would be split up among environmental programs, health initiatives and state emergency response activities.

Of the 75 percent of revenues that would go to the local governments, 36 percent would go to the county in which the well is located, 37 percent would go to the municipality in which the well is located, and 27 percent would be distributed to all municipalities within the host county using a formula based on miles of highway and population.

This proposal from Rep. Ellis is significantly different from a drilling fee proposal he introduced in June-- House Bill 1715-- which called for a uniform statewide fee starting at $25,000 per well with the proceeds divided between counties, other local governments and school districts hosting Marcellus drilling.

A provision added to House Bill 1950 would also transfer funds out of DCNR's Oil and Gas Fund to finance the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund as expanded by Gov. Rendell to include alternative energy and economic development projects like parking garages. It is not the narrowly focused priorities established in the original Growing Greener Program proposed by Gov. Ridge-- mine reclamation, watershed restoration, farmland preservation and wastewater and drinking water projects.

Transfers would also be used to fund county conservation districts, the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund and increase in-lieu of tax payments for state owned land.

A summary of the bill is available online.
“This legislation (House Bill 1950) would enact a competitive local option impact fee that would help to protect our environment and deal with the effects of harvesting natural gas without driving good-paying jobs out of our economy,” Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre), Majority Chair of the House Finance Committee said. “The majority of people in Pennsylvania want to see us take some action on this issue. Today, we took the first step toward enacting a responsible bill that would benefit all Pennsylvanians.
“The reality we are dealing with is that we need a plan that can get 102 votes in the House, 26 votes in the Senate and the signature of the governor,” Rep. Benninghoff added. “We passed a responsible, competitive, realistic plan out of committee.”

The Minority Chair of the House Finance Committee, Rep. Phyllis Mundy (D-Luzerne) said, "This is an extremely weak, ill-conceived bill. The consequences for local residents could be terrible. Not only do local governments lose local control, but there is little in place to protect residents, the environment and property values. And to make matters worse, the proposed fee is structured to create winners and losers. Unfortunately, Luzerne County would be one of the losers."

Rep. Mundy said she fears that local governments would be dealing with similar scenarios such as one that happened near her legislative district, where an oil and gas company proposed building a natural gas metering station near the Dallas Area School District campus.

"A combination of zoning regulations and public outcry prompted the project to be moved further away from the campus. But if this bill becomes law, the drilling industry could dictate to local government where it will do business.

"The natural gas industry has a large, expensive impact on our Commonwealth, and that's simply not enough. Taxpayers have been footing the bill for the coal industry for years, and that shouldn't happen again with the gas industry."

In reaction to the House action, Gov. Corbett said, "I applaud House Finance Committee members for moving this important measure. This bill contains many of the provisions contained in our proposal, and I am pleased to see the legislature working toward a final bill."

The Governor added he looks forward to continued discussions with the General Assembly that will lead to a strong and sensible Marcellus Shale legislative package.

NewsClips

House Committee Approves Gas Drilling Bill, Impact Fee

House Panel Passes Its Version Of Shale Impact Fee

House Bill Would Allow Gas Drilling Fees, Regulations

Help Wanted: Director Of Water Resource Programs, PEC

The PA Environmental Council is seeking candidates for their Director of Water Resource Programs. Applications are due November 21. Click Here for the complete announcement.

This is a highly visible leadership position among water resource constituencies in Pennsylvania, and the Director should be knowledgeable about Pennsylvania water resources issues, familiar with federal, state and local regulations and programs.

He/she will establish a strategic direction for PEC’s work. The position is intended to achieve coordination and synergy among PEC programs regarding water resource management including ecological restoration, greenway and trail development and sustainable development.

Resource sharing amongst and learning from other PEC offices and affiliates (PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers and Save Water PA) with respect to watershed programs are also responsibilities of the DWRP.

Mail or email your resume with a cover letter, including salary expectations and three references to: Cindy Ferguson, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 532, Philadelphia, PA 19107 or to: cferguson@pecpa.org.

Wednesday NewsClips

House Republican Measure Preempts Local Drilling Regulation
Letter: Corbett Drilling Fee Plan Is Fair, Reasonable
Rex Energy Drills First Utica Shale Well In Western PA
PA Firefighters Prepare For Marcellus Well The Big One
16,800 Gallons Of Drilling Water Spills
Dallas Twp Gas Facility Arguments Conclude
Butler Twp Meeting Addresses Potential Future Drilling
Company Wants To Run Ethane Pipeline Thru Washington County
State College Council Members Fight Environmental Proposal
Nov. 9: Learning About Marcellus Shale At Valley Green
Op-Ed: Governor, DEP Secretary Ignorant Of Agency's Impact
15 Ways To Lower Oil Heating Bills This Winter
Lycoming County Recycling Takes Another Step
PEC: Spring Garden Greenway Project
Editorial: Sun Must Not Set On Solar Program
Join In Plant One Million Celebration Saturday In Southeast
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

House Finance Committee To Consider Republican Marcellus Fee Bill Wednesday

Although not sunshined on the General Assembly website as of this writing, the House Finance Committee has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. to consider House Bill 1950 (Ellis-R-Butler) establishing a county-imposed drilling fee, adopting the Governor's drilling environmental protection proposals and authorizing additional transfers from the Oil and Gas Fund.

The meeting will be in Room 245 Main Capitol. Click Here for more background on the proposal which was just introduced in bill form today.

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Mifflin) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and Rep. Phyllis Mundy (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair.

USDA To Visit Selected PA Farmers For Conservation Assessment Survey

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will soon visit selected farmers in Pennsylvania as part of the 2011 National Resources Inventory – Conservation Effects Assessment Project survey.

The survey, conducted between November 2011 and February 2012, will gather information from producers about farming and conservation practices on cultivated cropland.

“Conservation programs help agricultural producers reduce soil erosion, enhance water and air quality, conserve energy, and enhance wildlife habitat,” said Kevin Pautler, director of the NASS Pennsylvania Field Office. “These programs are important to farmers and rural communities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed who use them to help maintain productive farmland and restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay. I encourage all farmers contacted to respond to the survey.”

Why respond to the CEAP survey? Your response will help:

-- Provide a much needed complete picture of conservation practices in the Chesapeake Bay

watershed;

-- Illustrate the good work that farmers in the region are already doing to conserve natural resources;

-- Improve and strengthen technical and financial programs that help landowners plan and install conservation practices on agricultural land in the Chesapeake Bay watershed; and

-- Maintain the very conservation programs that can help producers’ bottom line – while also protecting the very soil, water and habitat we all depend on.

“Chesapeake Bay area farmers, especially those in Pennsylvania, have continued to install many on-farm best management practices since NASS last conducted the CEAP survey in 2006,” said Pautler. “This updated information is needed to document the prevalence of all conservation practices and provide the base from which to strengthen conservation planning, implementation and management.”

Producers are asked to provide information on farm production practices; chemical, fertilizer and manure applications; integrated pest management; and installed conservation practices. As with all NASS surveys, respondents are guaranteed by law that their individual information is kept confidential.

For more information or questions about the CEAP survey, contact the NASS Pennsylvania Field Office at 1-800-498-1518 or the USDA National Resources Inventory – Conservation Effects Assessment Project survey webpage.

Free Pre-Drilling Private Drinking Water Testing Offered In 8 Northcentral Counties

The Headwaters Quality Drinking Water Project of the Headwaters Resource Conservation & Development Council is now providing low income families in Jefferson, Elk, Potter, Cameron, Clearfield, Clinton, Centre and McKean Counties with secure chain of custody water sample analyses of their private water supplies prior to Marcellus Shale Gas Well Drilling activities.

A $150,000 grant from the Colcom Foundation’s Marcellus Environmental Fund supports this project.

The Headwaters Project is also providing mandatory educational workshops and material explaining how to interpret the water quality results, when do things become toxic, and what the homeowner should do in case something does happen to their water supply.

RC&D will partner with various organizations and agencies including the Department of Environmental Protection, Penn State Extension and the local school districts and conservation districts.

Jefferson & Clearfield Counties

The first set of water samplings will take place in Jefferson and Clearfield Counties. Testing will be conducted from October 24 through December 2 with a mandatory educational workshop following.

For folks living in Jefferson County, the workshop will be held on December 15 from 5-7 p.m., location to be determined. For Clearfield County, the workshop will be held on December 14 from 5-7 p.m., location to be determined.

Elk & Centre Counties

The second set of water samplings will take place in Elk and Centre Counties. Testing will be conducted January 9 through February 17 with a mandatory educational workshop following.

For folks living in Elk County, the workshop will be held on March 8 from 5-7 p.m., location to be determined. For Centre County, the workshop will be held on March 7 from 5-7 p.m., location to be determined.

Cameron & Clinton Counties

The third set of water samplings will take place in Cameron and Clinton Counties. Testing will be conducted March 12 through April 20 with a mandatory educational workshop following.

For folks living in Cameron County, the workshop will be held on May 10 from 5-7 p.m., location to be determined. For Clinton County, the workshop will be held on May 9 from 5-7 p.m., location to be determined.

McKean & Potter Counties

The fourth set of water samplings will take place in McKean and Potter Counties. Testing will be conducted May 14 through June 22 with a mandatory educational workshop following.

For folks living in McKean County, the workshop will be held on July 11 from 5-7 p.m., location to be determined. For Potter County, the workshop will be held on July 12 from 5-7 p.m., location to be determined.

Applications can be obtained at the Clearfield County Conservation District located at 511 Spruce Street Suite 6, Clearfield, PA 16830 and are available online.

For more information, contact Kelly Williams, Clearfield County Conservation District’s Watershed Conservationist at 814-765-2629 or send email to: kwilliamsccd@atlanticbbn.net.

The Headwaters Resource Conservation & Development Council is tasked with providing local leadership to improve the economic, environmental, and social well-being of the people of Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, and Potter counties in northcentral Pennsylvania.

Tuesday NewsClips

Senate Impact Fee Still Work-In-Progress, Vote Delayed 2 Weeks
Legislature Struggles With Drilling Fees
Senate Drilling Bill Talks To Go On
Potential Gas Drilling Impact On Wildlife Scrutinized
No Damage Found At Drill Site Spill
Natural Gas Prices Fall 8.2 Percent In Erie Region
Benton Twp Supervisors To Vote On Changed Drilling Conditions
Guilford Twp Conference Nov. 9 Focuses On Marcellus Shale
Chesco Man Charged With Wastewater Treatment Violations
EPA Orders PA Power Plant To Reduce Emissions
Federal Air Pollution Rules Touted
Exelon Ready For Give, Take In Merger
Township Gets Grant For Tree Planting Project
Meadville Nature Center Plans Photographers' Walk
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest