Sunday, April 14, 2013
As the Marcellus Shale industry expands in western Pennsylvania—and individual property owners start to benefit—issues often become controversial, especially when it comes to the environment.
Marcellus Shale is here to stay. Like its natural resource predecessors—coal deep mining and strip mining, natural gas and oil wells, and logging—Marcellus Shale drilling brings jobs and a source of energy for businesses and consumers. Like its predessors, Marcellus Shale drilling also brings and will most likely leave behind environmental concerns. Today, there's mine insurance today for those who own homes and businesses above areas that were mined for coal 100 or more years ago. Reclamation efforts were mandated in 1977 to restore areas destroyed by strip mining and why there's always a danger of an oil or gas well fire or leak into waterways. Reforestation replaces trees lost to the logging industry. Already, Marcellus Shale has raised…
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Consol Energy received approval to begin Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling on airport land.
Allegheny County Council has approved an ordinance authorizing the lease of more than 9,000 acres of land surrounding Pittsburgh International Airport for Marcellus shale gas extraction. Council members approved the ordinance Tuesday evening. Much of the land in question is located in Moon and Findlay townships. The Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports the measure was approved in a 9-to-4 vote with one abstention. The lease will enable drilling to take place on county-owned land for the extraction of "oil, gas, natural gas liquids, and other materials," according to a statement from the county. With the ordinance, the Allegheny County Airport Authority has entered into a 20-year agreement with Cecil-based energy provider Consol Energy. …
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Bridgeville, Collier, Heidelberg and Scott Township will only get a few hundred dollars out of the new natural gas drilling impact fee money designated by Act 13.
Communities across Pennsylvania will receive a share of the $204 million Marcellus Shale impact fee, but towns in the Chartiers Valley School District will only get a few hundred dollars out of it. The money will be delivered within the next two weeks to help communities offset the costs of drilling or equipment trucks rumbling through their towns. Scott Township will get the most with $346.34 while Heidelberg will get the least with only $38.73 allotted to the borough. Bridgeville will receive $117.75 and Collier Township will get $185.14. In comparison, Frazer Township is set to receive $54,720, which is by far the biggest portion in Allegheny County. Bridgeville - $117.75 Collier Township - $185.14 Heidelberg - $38.73 Scott Township - $…
Saturday, September 15, 2012
The brief supporting the Commonwealth Court's ruling that portions of the new law is unconstitutional is expected to be filed Tuesday.
Pittsburgh City Council President Darlene Harris announced Friday that council will file an amicus brief in support of upholding the state Commonwealth Court’s ruling that portions of Pennsylvania's new law governing Marcellus Shale is unconstitutional. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the state's appeal of the decision on Oct. 17 in Pittsburgh. Council’s brief is expected to be filed with the state Supreme Court Tuesday, Harris said in a release. "It is difficult to get nine votes on legislation of this nature and I am pleased that the council is of one mind on this matter,” she said. Harris added that Monroeville, Murrysville, West Homestead and other municipalities are doing the same. She continued: “This …
Friday, July 27, 2012
Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court issued its opinion Thursday morning calling the zoning provisions unconstitutional.
The state Commonwealth Court on Thursday struck down portions of Pennsylvania’s newly enacted legislation governing Marcellus Shale operations—also known as Act 13—as unconstitutional. The 54-page opinion filed by President Judge Dan Pellegrini stated: “Petitioners allege that they have close to 150 unconventional Marcellus Shale wells drilled within their borders, and Act 13 prevents them from fulfilling their constitutional and statutory obligations to protect the health, safety and welfare of their citizens, as well as public natural resources from the industrial activity of oil and gas drilling. Petitioners allege that Act 13 requires them to modify many of their zoning laws.” The petitioners, which included a cluster of local …
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
A TEACH (Tell Everyone All Cuts Hurt) representative from Steel Valley School District takes a look at the state budget priorities.
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Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Hey, Taxpayer, While you were out trying to avoid heatstroke this summer, your state government actually did something. The Pennsylvania Legislature passed another one of those pesky budgets determining exactly what your taxes have bought you this year. I don’t know about you, but I don’t mind paying taxes if I get a good return on my investment. And what better investment than our children, our future? I’m speaking, of course, about public education. So was this a good return? Let’s see: GOOD NEWS PA. BUDGET PASSED HIGHER THAN GOVERNOR WANTED: Last year, the Legislature cut $818 million from public schools—especially the poorest ones. This year, the Gov. Corbett wanted $94 million in additional cuts, but instead the Legislature voted to …
Friday, July 6, 2012
Republicans Tim Pawlenty and Bobby Jindal stopped in Oakland Friday on their bus tour of Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Pittsburgh was a political playground Friday, with the Democratic and Republican parties rallying only hours apart. U.S. Congressman Tim Murphy (R-Upper St. Clair), former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal stopped by Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland to show their support for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. All three spoke mainly about jobs and the economy. Pawlenty and Jindal, both Republican vice presidential hopefuls, are touring Pennsylvania and Ohio on the tail of President Barack Obama's “Betting on America” bus tour, which stopped just blocks away on Friday at Carnegie Mellon University in Oakland. During the rally, Murphy spoke out about the importance of this upcoming election…
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Opponents of Pennsylvania's Act 13 continue legal challenges, citing erosion of local jurisdiction.
The flurry of legal activity surrounding Pennsylvania’s new drilling law continues. On Wednesday, attorneys representing seven municipalities and other entities opposing state Act 13 filed further motions with Commonwealth Court in attempts to strike down portions of the legislation. At issue is the diminished ability of local government to regulate oil and gas activities. Opponents contend that the law “deprives municipal officials of carrying out their legally binding duty to protect air, water and natural environmental values,” according to a lawsuit filed in March by seven municipalities and other entities. Cecil Township attorney John Smith, who represents the suit’s petitioners, said Wednesday’s actions seek to prevent …
Friday, April 27, 2012
Scott Township passed a resolution showing symbolic support for the communities fighting the state’s new Marcellus Shale law.
Scott Township commissioners unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday night showing symbolic support for the communities fighting the state’s new Marcellus Shale law. Act 13, the natural gas drilling law that was passed earlier this year, removes local zoning control from communities and gives them less authority to push well pads away from schools, homes and hospitals. The resolution from the Scott Township commissioners at their voting meeting is merely symbolic, and municipal officials said they don’t plan to join the lawsuit. The lawsuit, which is being spearheaded by South Fayette Township, also includes Cecil, Peters, Mt. Pleasant and Robinson townships in Washington County. A Commonwealth Court judge granted an injunction earlier …
Friday, April 13, 2012
'Pre-existing ordinances must remain in effect until or unless challenged pursuant to Act 13 and are found to be invalid,' the order read.
A Commonwealth Court judge on Wednesday afternoon granted a preliminary injunction regarding the state's new Marcellus Shale law, known as Act 13. The order means that implementation of portions of the new law slated to go into effect Saturday will be delayed for 120 days. The order reads: "While the ultimate determination on the constitutionality of Act 13 is not presently before the Court, the Court is of the view that municipalities must have an adequate opportunity to pass zoning laws that comply with Act 13 without the fear or risk that development of oil and gas operations under Act 13 will be inconsistent with later validly passed local zoning ordinances." It continues: "For that reason, pre-existing ordinances must remain in effect…
Tom Barchfeld
8:38 am on Thursday, April 18, 2013
Mike, the EPA head herself could not find 1 instance of pollution in 60 years of fracking history. more ›