Community Corner

Opinion: Gas Bill Protects Environment, Preserves Local Control

State Sen. Chuck McIlhinney says Pennsylvania's newest law regulating the natural gas drilling industry is "not perfect," but is "a balanced and thoughtful approach."

The following is an op-ed piece written by state Sen. Chuck McIlhinney.

After years of debate and negotiation, the General Assembly recently passed legislation to strengthen oversight over the natural gas drilling industry and set an impact fee on drilling activity in the Marcellus Shale region. The new law is expected to generate tens of millions of dollars each year to protect the environment and fund critical infrastructure needs for communities across the commonwealth.

As we worked to craft a compromise, protecting the environment and preserving local zoning control were two of my primary concerns. The final legislation accomplished these goals, earning the support of Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors, other local government organizations and the state’s Growing Greener Coalition. While not perfect, it is a balanced and thoughtful approach to protecting our environment and regulating an industry that is here to stay in Pennsylvania.  It does not affect Bucks County’s townships, like Nockamixon Township.  It would only pertain to non-conventional wells. 

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In the weeks leading up to final passage of the bill, I joined several of my Senate colleagues in opposing a provision that removed a municipality’s ability to regulate and control all land use in their area. The compromise reached by the General Assembly provides flexible zoning standards which will allow communities to retain reasonable control over zoning power and encourage consistency in regulating the gas industry.

Environmental safeguards included in the measure would increase well-bonding amounts, boost penalties for violations, require the disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing and require the posting of inspection reports on the Department of Environmental Protection’s publicly accessible Internet website.

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The final legislation also included funding for environmental programs, such as acid mine drainage remediation, water projects, flood control, projects for open space, recreational trails and "beautification" projects, and hazardous sites cleanup. At a time when our economy is slow to recover from the recession and state funding for these programs is scarce, this revenue is crucial to protecting our natural resources.

The drilling industry has the potential to create thousands of new jobs and help our state and nation move closer to energy independence. As a result of this new law, we can manage this tremendous resource in a way that improves our economy, protects our environment and preserves our quality of life.


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