Saturday NewsClips

EPA Report On Wyoming Water Doesn't End Fracking Debate
Powerful Gas Pipelines, Weak Oversight (Part 1)
Crews Routing 110-Mile Dominion Gas Pipeline Under Monongahela
Southwest Twp Officials Hold Anti-Impact Fee Meeting Tuesday
Drilling Wastewater Recycling Company Targets SW PA
West Virginia To Tackle Marcellus Drilling Rules Sunday
UGI Celebrates First Marcellus Gas Connection
Range Resources Reports Doubling Of Marcellus
Natural Gas Prices Poised To Go Higher
More Than $380 Million Paid In Federal Flood Recovery
Student Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan In Canton
Dollar Debate: Bridges Or Trails Or Beautification
Pittsburgh Water Authority Criticized Over Lack Of Leadership
Editorial: Mine Tragedy Agreement Doesn't Bring Justice
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Dec. 12 PA Environment Digest Now Available

Dec. 12 PA Environment Digest now available. Click Here to print this Digest.

Senate Guts, Moves House Marcellus Bill, But No Agreement Yet On Provisions

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Wednesday reported out the House Marcellus bill-- House Bill 1950 (Ellis-R-Butler)-- after amending the bill to gut the existing language and insert the provisions of Senate-passed Senate Bill 1100 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson).
Click Here to watch a video of the Committee meeting.
After the Committee meeting, Sen. Joe Scarnati confirmed there is not yet an agreement between the House and Senate Republicans and the Governor's Office on a drilling impact fee or environmental provisions covering Marcellus Shale drilling.
In particular, Sen. Scarnati said there aren't the votes in the Senate to approve legislation containing the optional county-imposed drilling fee included in the House Bill and advocated by Gov. Corbett.
The Senator also said he would not be adding any additional voting days this year, unless there was an agreement of all parties on a Marcellus bill.
The Senate is set to adjourn next Wednesday for the year, while the House has an additional three days scheduled.

Friday NewsClips

Business Leaders Ask Lawmakers To Finish Work On Marcellus Bill
EPA Declares Fracking A Potential Source Of Pollution
EPA Links Fracking, Fouled Water
Editorial: PA Must Fall In Step With Drilling Oversight
Greens Want Fed Re-Hearing On PA Forest Drilling
Hearings Continue For 7 Pipeline Workers Accused Of Killing Deer
EQT To Raise Funds For Shale Development
Mandatory Trash Pickup Law Seems Unlikely In PA
NRC Adds Oversight On One Limerick Reactor
Interest In Reducing Energy Use Helps State College Company Grow
Axion Power Revs Up Renewables With PowerCube
Philly Mayor Talks About Infrastructure Needs
SEPTA Receives $1.2 Million EPA Grant To Improve Air Quality
Mine Safety Bills Pending After Disaster Report
Smart Growth Conference To Focus On Sustainability
Op-Ed: No Rototiller, Tractor On This Sustainable York Farm
Op-Ed: Say No To Sunday Hunting
Planners Hopeful For Amtrack Stop Near PA Trail
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Thursday NewsClips

County Impact Fee Remains Sticking Point On Marcellus Bills
Editorial: Revised Data Good Case For Severance Tax
State, Driller, Families In Dimock In Water Dispute
Cabot Study: Methane In Water Not Related To Drilling
Salts From Drilling Still Showing Up In Rivers
DEP Asks 99 Gas Companies For Air Emissions Data
Dallas Twp Gas Facility Gets OK
Williamsport Benefiting From Marcellus Shale Boom
Director Of Chesapeake Bay Film Visits Whitaker Center
Deadline Nears For Flood Victims To Seek Federal Assistance
West Pittston Residents Confused, Frustrated With Post-Flood Rules
Penn State Extension: Conservation Subdivision Handbook, NC
Murrysville To Test Automated Recycling
Op-Ed: Fear Should Not Direct Our Nation's Energy Policy
Western PA Gets Solar Energy Boost
Three Of Dirtiest Power Plants In Western PA
Farmland Preservation Milestone In Montgomery County
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Senate Committee Moves Marcellus Bill

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out the House Marcellus bill- HB 1950- after amending the bill to gut the existing language and insert the provisions of Senate-passed SB 1100.
Senators said they took the action to move the process along. They also said there is no agreement yet on provisions of a Marcellus bill between the Senate, House and Governor's Office.
Sen. Scarnati said the Senate would not be adding any session days in December unless there was an agreement. The Senate is set to adjourn next Wednesday for the year.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Strengthen Marcellus Shale Legislation Now!

With current negotiations taking place on Senate Bill 1100, PN 1777 and House Bill 1950, PN 2777, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation has a set of preliminary comments on certain environmental provisions contained in (or not covered by) Senate Bill 1100, PN 1777 and House Bill 1950, PN 2777.

The comments focus on several key issues, but are intended to be neither comprehensive nor all-inclusive. For example, impact fees, allocation of funding, pre-emption, and bonding are not addressed.

In general, preference would be for the more protective of the legislative provisions where there are differences, as the attached document suggests. With that understanding, we also believe that it is especially important for the following issues to be addressed in a final legislative package:

-- Defining the term waterbody and ensuring that an additional 100’ setback is created from a stream or waterbody (definition is important – we believe that it should not be limited to “solid blue lines” as currently stated the House Bill 1950) which is measured from the edge of disturbance, rather than from the wellbore;

-- Clarifying DEP’s authority to condition and deny permits when protecting public resources;

-- Defining the term Best Management Practices and requiring BMP’s, especially in areas with EV/HQ streams and when drilling will occur in a floodplain;

-- Requiring erosion and sedimentation control inspections prior to the commencement of drilling activities; and

-- Identifying areas of high ecological value and allowing DEP to consider these important areas as a reason to condition a permit.

CBF urges you to contact your House and Senate member now!

Growing Greener Coalition: Help Secure Funding Now!

Now is your best chance to help secure funding to renew Growing Greener said the Renew Growing Greener Coalition.

The PA Senate and House have each passed bills that would change the rules regarding gas drilling, establish a drilling impact fee and provide money to environmental projects. Senate and House leaders must now resolve the differences between Senate Bill 1100 and House Bill 1950. Your actions will determine whether they dedicate substantial funding to Growing Greener in the final bill to be hammered out.

Click Here to see how you can help!

Wednesday NewsClips

Special: The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has sunshined an off-the-floor Committee meeting today on the House Republican-passed Marcellus legislation-- House Bill 1950. The effort is likely to get the bill into position for a final vote next week in the Senate, in case there is an agreement on Marcellus provisions with the House and the Governor.
Outside Groups Deliver Water To Dimock As Sides Spar Over Drilling
Proposed State Law Opposed On Drilling, Local Zoning
PennFuture Wants More Energy Grants
Complacency A Danger At Nuclear Sites, Official Warns
Aqua America Extends Contract For DeBenedictis
Dam Repairs Shorten Shikellamy State Park Boating Season
Pittsburgh Council Considers Taxing Billboards
Cumberland Valley Rails-To-Trails Buys Land From PPL
You Can Tell The Creature By How It Nests
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Senate Sets Action On House Marcellus Bill

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee just sunshined a committee meeting for Wednesday for consideration of House Bill 1950 (Ellis-R-Butler), the House Republican-passed Marcellus Shale bill. The meeting will be held off-the-floor in the Senate Rules Room.