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Fracking Talk Continues at Rep. Santarsiero’s Policy Hearing

By Caroline Johnston, Contributing Writer

The Marcellus Shale discussion continued on Wednesday with the House Democratic Policy Committee hearing co-chaired by Bucks Rep. Santarsiero (D-31).  At issue during the hearing, held in Newtown, Bucks County, was the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission report released last week.  The hearing hosted a plethora of attendees, including state representatives from Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Lancaster counties and roughly 30 public attendees.

“It is important that people from not only my district but from the whole Commonwealth know as much as possible about this issue,” Santarsiero said as he opened the hearing.

This hearing came five days after Gov. Corbett’s appointed Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission released their 96 recommendations for a better-regulated natural gas industry in Pennsylvania – which included an impact fee for communities with natural gas drilling.

The briefs came from current and former environmental, economic and research representatives, as well as reports from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, Marcellus 8 Point Plan, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, PennEnvironment, Pa. Budget and Policy Center and The League of Women Voters of Bucks County.

Former Department of Environmental Protection secretary John Hanger opened by recanting his support for 10 of the 96 recommendations.  

Hanger, along with the creators of Marcellus 8 Point Plan and Delaware Riverkeeper Network Director Tray Carluccio, agreed that the Governor’s report fails to address the environmental implications that come with natural gas drilling.  Santarsiero reiterated that all Pennsylvanians will be affected by the continuous natural gas drilling, especially if done incorrectly.   

Much of the hearings focus centered on Pennsylvania’s use of its own gas and the Pennsylvania impact fee.

Pennsylvania is one of the largest exporters of natural gas in the United States.  In fact, Hanger noted that the Commonwealth “[is] now a net exporter of Natural Gas; we produce more gas here than we use.” He continued by saying, “but we are still importing from Gulf Coast states.”  By using the gas cultivated in Pennsylvania for Pennsylvanians, Hanger believes a reasonable tax can be met.

There were differing feelings toward the impact fee.  Some hearing attendees favored an impact fee based on location, while others favored a flat rate impact fee.  Rep. Santarsiero stressed that although his constituents are not within these zones, the issue is important for all Pennsylvanians.  

The Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling was acknowledged by all in attendance as an important aspect of Pennsylvania’s economy, and a resourceful form of job stimulation.  As one of the creators of the Marcellus 8 Point Plan testified: “Any plan that dilutes the effect but gets the goal, I’d be in support of.”  

The hearing marked the first legislative committee review of the Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission report. The Governor’s recommendations are sure to be closely reviewed by those that would not typically benefit from the state’s changes and regulations.  The overarching goal of the recommendation and review process is to ensure the Commonwealth’s long term prosperity – which hearing attendees unanimously agree will require Pennsylvania to continue being a leading producer of natural gas, while making sure that the burgeoning industry doesn’t disrupt the state’s aesthetic beauty of the lives of its citizens.

3 Responses

  1. I don’t know why these hearings are being held in Bucks County. Come up to Central PA where the drilling is going on and hold your hearings where you can see what is really going on.

  2. John Hanger is like the Jimmy Carter of former DEP Secretaries! Next he’ll suggest we all put on a hand-knit, organic wool sweater. He’s right, though, gas is happening and we aren’t optimizing our usage. And we need a general tax to update the aging gas infrastructure we already have, so no more neighborhoods blow. Thanks for covering this important first post-Advisory Commission legislative meeting. Liz R., KeepTapWaterSafe.org

  3. aside from all its other dangers to the local environment, fracking releases methane directly into the air, exponentially increasing global warming harm. this is a last gasp, old technology play that will leave enduring harms for a short term financial windfall for a few, UGH

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