Monday NewsClips

NE Environmental Partners Announce Award Winners
DEP Blocks Counties From Collecting Recycling Fees
PA Archaeologists Fret Over Drilling Construction
Dominion Wants To Export Marcellus Shale Gas
Virginia Firm Wants To Export Marcellus Shale Gas
Shale Rights Near Allegheny County Airport, Who Benefits?
Watershed Group Hosts Drilling Talk Tonight In LaPlume Twp
Green Grants To Aid Projects In Lancaster County
Flooding Raises Fears Of Population Drop In PA
Flood Recovery Slows, Agencies Reduce Office Hours
House Approves Legislation Funding Utility Improvements
Editorial: Derail Small Business Regulation Review Bill
PA Driver's Chance Of Colliding With Deer Is One In 86
Lawmakers Offering Deal For Sunday Hunting
Lehigh Valley Artist Teaches The Spirit Of Nature
Woolly Worms Warn Of A Wicked PA Winter
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Sunday NewsClips

Op-Ed: Corbett's Impact Fee Lacks Needed Money, Protections For Environment
Op-Ed: Corbett's Shale Fee Plan Has Right Principles
Column: Drilling Fee Plan Yields Just Peanuts
Protestors Fear Drilling In Butler County Will Spoil Milk
Range Resources Moving Into Beaver County
PSU Extension Hosts Marcellus Workshop In Lock Haven
Corbett Chooses 3 From NE For Top Posts
Longwall Mining Law Reviewed By DEP Citizens Advisory Council
To Rebuild Or Retreat: Susquehanna River Levels Communities
Flood Devastation Comes Into Focus Through Camera Lens
Builder Proud, Relieved Floodgates Held
Flooding A Nuisance In Shadyside
Editorial: Fast-Track Power Monstrosity On Direct Route
Beauty Rises From Ashes At Flight 93 Rose Garden
Mine Rescue Teams Hone Skills Thru Practice, Competition
Retired Miner Gets Spot In National Coal Mine Hall Of Fame
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Op-Ed: Corbett's Impact Fee Lacks Needed Money, Protections For Environment

By Paul King, President, PA Environmental Council

Gov. Corbett’s proposal to regulate the development of the Marcellus Shale is a good start. It contains nearly all of the recommendations contained in the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission report this summer, many of which were conceived and proposed by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. And if passed into law intact, this plan would offer far greater protection of the environment and public health of Pennsylvania’s citizens than the Oil and Gas Act provides.
But the governor’s plan is broad and lacking in specifics, and it’s the details of this plan that are now of greatest concern. As with most things, the devil is in the details, which will be critical to passing a bill that’s good for Pennsylvania.
The big news in the governor’s plan is, of course, an impact fee on gas revenues that would be split between counties where drilling takes place and the state for a variety of Marcellus-related purposes. This assessment would expire in 10 years, and the governor’s estimates project that it would produce $120 million for the state’s coffers provided that all of the 34 counties with Marcellus Shale activity adopt the entire fee.
This might prove to be the fatal flaw in the Corbett plan, because the revenues the Department of Environmental Protection needs to fund the oil and gas regulatory program will only materialize if all 34 counties opt in to the program. But the fiscal requirements needed to protect the state’s environment far exceed anything envisioned by Corbett’s proposal.
Until recently, the Growing Greener program provided as much as $150 million per year for locally driven initiatives aimed at protecting and restoring our state’s land, air and water resources. That program has been slashed in recent years because of budget diversions and lack of revenue.
What’s more, DEP regulators are already understaffed and lack the manpower and resources to properly inspect and control Marcellus drilling operations and thousands of abandoned gas wells. DEP requires an increase in funding to keep up with the growth of this industry.
Marcellus Shale activity demands more than added site inspectors — it requires additional capacity air, water and waste disposal permitting as well.
Consequently, we believe that a greater share of the impact fee revenue should be used for addressing cumulative impacts and the management of Marcellus Shale activity.
Another example is the provision for setbacks from gas wells. Under the governor’s plan, the regulations would triple the well setback distance from the well bore from 100 to 300 feet for streams, lakes, ponds and rivers. That might sound fine in theory, but in practice a 300-foot setback from the bore would not even get you off the drilling pad in many instances. So under the governor’s plan, Marcellus Shale drilling could take place on the shores of these bodies of water, which is a recipe for disaster.
There are several other opportunities to improve what the governor has proposed, but legislators now have a reasonable foundation from which to begin debate. We all have a duty to get this right. But at the same time, it’s important to remember that perfect is the enemy of good, especially in politics. The time and effort already expended in the study, debate and analysis of this issue have been more than sufficient to allow lawmakers and the governor to get something done now.
The gas industry acknowledges it and has stepped up to meet the challenge. The people of Pennsylvania are entitled to it. And the environment of this commonwealth needs it, now and for future generations.
All the details will be worked out, so we intend to do everything we can to hold the governor and the General Assembly’s feet to the fire as this proposal moves through the General Assembly.
We commend Gov. Corbett on a good start, and expect that he and the General Assembly will build on this plan and craft legislation that fully protects the people and environment of the state.

Paul King is president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, a statewide environmental organization.

Saturday NewsClips

Some Say Proposed Drilling Impact Fee Too Limited
NE Reps Attack Corbett's Drilling Fee Proposal
PA Urban, Rural Interests Fight Over Proposed Shale Gas Revenues
A Primer On Corbett's Drilling Fee Proposal
Op-Ed: Principles Must Lead Shale Fee Proposal
DRBC Again Delays Action On Drilling Regulations
DRBC Gas Drilling Meeting Delayed
High Methane Level Recorded In Dimock Water Well
Republican Wants To Improve Fracking Fluid Disclosure
PA Landowners File Appeal In Shale Gas Ruling
Roaring Brook Supervisors Discuss Gas Drilling Ordinance
Chesapeake Energy CEO Talks About Fracking, Wine Collection
Officials: Storm Drains Not Cause Of Flood Damage
Congress To Take Up Waste-To-Energy Sustainability System
State Finishes Cleanup Of 50,000 Tires In Beaver County
Sustainability More Than Buzzword On College Campuses
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Oct. 10 PA Environment Digest Now Available

Oct. 10 PA Environment Digest now available. Click Here to print this Digest.

Ohio River Watershed Celebration Attracts Nearly 1,000, Recognizes Partnerships

The 2011 Ohio River Watershed Celebration was held on September 22 attracting nearly 1,000 attendees who toured the region’s three rivers and discussed past, present and future goals and successes in protecting and improving Western Pennsylvania’s Ohio River watershed.
The celebration, a free event and open to the public, will take place on board two Gateway Clipper Fleet boats.
Representatives from business, industry, grassroots watershed groups, foundations, colleges, universities, scientific societies, non-profits, and local, state and federal government will attend. The cruise will feature more than thirty displays from these organizations, providing an opportunity to discuss their contributions to conserving energy and protecting the environment.
Recognizing Partnerships
Awards were presented to organizations and individuals recognizing them for their exemplary efforts to restore and promoting our region’s streams and rivers as a valuable resource. The awards were presented to Joan Jessen, the Allegheny Land Trust, Monoca Borough and Michael Baker, Jr. Inc. Click Here to read more…

Budget Cuts Force PA Center For Environmental Education To Close

On October 14 the PA Center for Environmental Education will close as a result of the elimination of all state funding for this valuable program in July.

The Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education housed as Slippery Rock University was part of an initiative to build statewide capacity for environmental education created by Gov. Tom Ridge in 1996 and formally established in law by Act 71 in 2008 through legislation sponsored by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

The Center was formed through the collaborative efforts of eleven Pennsylvania entities including government departments, agencies, and professional organization. The Center’s task is to promote and provide environmental education for all citizens of the Commonwealth and to serve as a resource for all stakeholders in environmental education.

According to an email sent by Center staff Friday, they working diligently to assure all educators across the state of Pennsylvania will have access to the content of the PCEE website as well as its online educational resources -- including Critter Quest PA and the upcoming Outdoor Classroom Resource Guide.

These resources are being transferred to the PA Association of Environmental Educators. By October 15 all visitors to http://www.pcee.org will be re-directed to PAEE's website. From their website, you will find information regarding the online educational resources developed by PCEE.

The staff at PCEE would like to thank you for supporting our work over the years and using the online resources, we hope you found them helpful for both your personal and professional purposes.

Friday NewsClips

Counties Like Corbett's Drilling Fee Plan, Not Their Role
County Commissioners Disagree With Corbett On Fee Plan
County Leaders Favor Corbett's Drilling Fee, Not Process
Doubts Raised In Alle-Kiski Valley About Corbett Fee Proposal
Column: Corbett Washes Hands Of State-Imposed Drilling Fee
Editorial: Legislature Must Adopt Better Gas Tax Plan
PA Doctors To Discuss Public Health Impacts Of Fracking
Agriculture Says Frack Water Didn't Kill Calves
Monitoring For Water Quality Impacts Of Drilling In Delaware
Marcellus Coalition Calls For Clarity In Regulation
Marcellus Shale Coalition Staffs Up
Chief Oil & Gas Asks Court to Speed Ruling On Lawsuit
Marcellus Shale Means Big Business For Chemical Industry
Corbett Urges State Hearings On Flooding Lessons
Op-Ed: DEP Reorganization Will Benefit Next Energy Revolution
Sediment Is Grim Threat To Chesapeake Bay
Fast Times At Sustainability High
Susquehanna-Roseland Power Line Acceleration Angers Residents
Sustainable Energy Fair Slated Saturday In Ohiopyle
Allegheny Passage Trail Link Under Way
Chile Looks To Quecreek For Mining Memorial Suggestions
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Counties Express Strong Reservations With Corbett's Plan To Have Them Levy Drilling Fee

The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Thursday announced its support for the direction taken by Gov. Corbett in his plan to implement numerous recommendations of the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, while expressing strong reservations with its provision vesting the levying and administration of the local impact fee with county government.

The Association’s strong reservations with county levy and administration of the impact fee are based on concerns that it creates inconsistency and uncertainty in its levy and creates duplicative administrative processes.

The Association believes that the interests of local government and of the industry are both better addressed by a uniform statewide levy and state administration. The point is further emphasized by the proposal’s dedication of 25 percent of the proceeds to state agencies.

Under the proposal, counties with shale gas would be authorized to levy an impact fee on active wells, at a maximum rate of $40,000 per well for its first year of production ($30,000 in the second year, $20,000 in the third, and $10,000 per year through the tenth year).

Seventy-five percent of the proceeds would stay with the impacted county and its municipalities, and the remaining 25 percent would be forwarded to the commonwealth for allocation among several shale gas-specific funds.

The Association expressed strong support for the 75 percent allocation to impacted communities, noting that counties and municipalities do not currently receive direct revenues from Marcellus and other shale gas producers, as they do from other mineral operations, based on a 2002 Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that exempted oil and gas from local property taxes.

Yet counties do provide services and incur costs based on gas development, including highway and bridge infrastructure, emergency management planning and response, human services, record keeping and others.

The Governor’s proposal directs the impact fee proceeds to these types of services, and CCAP notes that the list of allowable expenditures, and the formulas for distribution of the funds among the municipalities in the county, mirror proposals offered to the Governor’s Commission by it and the other local government groups.

CCAP also noted its membership’s interest in other shale gas development issues, expressing support for the Governor’s proposals to strengthen or address environmental, public safety, and pipeline concerns among others.

The Association commented that the Governor’s proposal shares many of the elements contained in legislation already introduced this session, signaling the beginning of a consensus to move the issue forward. CCAP expressed its interest in continuing to work with the Governor and the legislature to craft a comprehensive approach to shale gas development for enactment this fall.

Environmental Groups Respond To Gov. Corbett's Marcellus Recommendations

On Monday, Gov. Corbett announced his plans to implement recommendations from the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission. While much depends on details that have yet to be released, the environmental organizations represented on the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission are encouraged that the Governor intends to move forward with many of the recommendations in the Commission’s final report that address environmental concerns. This includes the tracking and recording of wastewater, increased setbacks from streams and water supplies, improved management of erosion and sediment, stronger protection of floodplains, and increased enforcement tools and fines.

Significant concerns remain, however, regarding the proposed county impact fee, which fails to adequately address the full range of impacts on Pennsylvania’s lands, water, wildlife, and outdoor recreational assets—within and beyond the Marcellus region.

We continue to believe that an appropriate mechanism already exists for investing in community projects that can help offset these impacts: the successful Growing Greener Program. We look forward to working with the General Assembly and Governor to ensure that sufficient funding is provided for conservation and environmental protection as part of this package.

It is imperative that the Commonwealth move quickly to improve its oversight and management of Marcellus development. With limited time remaining in the fall session, we are hopeful that detailed legislative language for the Governor’s proposal will be released for review and discussion as soon as possible.

From the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, The Nature Conservancy: Pennsylvania Chapter and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.