PA Environment Digest
An Update On Environmental Issues In PA
Edited By: David E. Hess, Crisci Associates
Winner 2009PAEE Business PartnerOf The Year AwardHarrisburg, PaFebruary 20, 2012Corbett Signs Marcellus Shale Drilling, Fee Bill Into Law
Gov. Tom Corbett Monday signedHouse Bill 1950(Ellis-R-Butler), the Marcellus Shale bill,into law. The bill enhances protection of our natural resources through stronger environmentalstandards, authorizes counties to adopt an impact fee, and builds upon efforts to help movePennsylvania toward energy independence.The historic measure is the first comprehensive re-write of the state’s Oil and Gas Actsince 1984. It contains much of what Corbett outlined in his Marcellus Shale proposal lastOctober. His plan followed the work of theGovernor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission.House Bill 1950 contains 24 of the legislative recommendations offered by the advisorycommission.“This growing industry will provide new career opportunities that will give our children areason to stay here in Pennsylvania,” Corbett said. “Thanks to this legislation, this naturalresource will safely and fairly fuel our generating plants and heat our homes while creating jobsand powering our state’s economic engine for generations to come.”The new law enhances environmental standards by:-- Increasing well-setback distance from 100 feet to 300 feet for streams, rivers, ponds and other water bodies, and from 200 feet to 500 feet from buildings and private water wells and to 1,000feet for public drinking water systems;-- Expanding an unconventional operator’s “presumed liability” for impairing water quality from1,000 feet to 2,500 feet from a gas well, and extends the duration from 6 months to 12 months;-- Enhancing water quality replacement standards to meet Safe Drinking Water Act standards;-- Enabling DEP to revoke permits in a more efficient manner to deal with imminent safety or environmental concerns;-- Increasing blanket bonds from $25,000 up to $600,000;-- Providing for strong, uniform and consistent statewide environmental standards – buildingupon and incorporating the best practices used by industry leaders; and-- Enhancing hydraulic fracturing disclosure, including online posting throughFracFocus.org.This law also authorizes counties within the shale regions to adopt an impact fee, whichwill be used by local communities experiencing the actual impacts of unconventional shale gasdevelopment.To recognize the tight economics associated with low natural gas prices, the fee amountcan fluctuate annually and is based on the average price of natural gas for the preceding year.
If all eligible counties adopt the fee, estimates for revenue are approximately $180million in 2012, climbing to $211 million in 2013 and $264 million in 2014.State agencies with a role in mitigating shale gas impacts, such as the Department of Environmental Protection, the Public Utility Commission, Pennsylvania EmergencyManagement Agency, State Fire Commissioner and the Fish and Boat Commission, will receivefixed dollar amounts off the top of the revenues collected from the fee.After that, 60 percent is directly distributed to impacted counties. A significant percentage of the remaining 40 percent will also be distributed to those counties through either population- or road-mileage-based formulas, or through the awarding of competitive grants.The new law also provides long-term regulatory predictability for job-creators and capitalinvestors, and helps businesses succeed by providing increased uniformity and fairness of localregulations while preserving local government’s traditional zoning authority. Upon petition, thePublic Utility Commission is authorized to review ordinances to make sure they comply withstate law.Finally, the law creates a Natural Gas Energy Development Program, which will provideincentives to convert fleets with vehicles weighing at least 14,000 pounds to compressed naturalgas, liquefied natural gas, or bi-fuel vehicles. At least 50 percent of the funds must be used for grants to local transportation organizations, including mass transit agencies.The law’s provisions authorizing counties to adopt ordinances imposing an impact fee gointo effect immediately. The majority of the law takes effect in 60 days.A detailed summary of House Bill 1950 from the Governor's Officeis available online.
NewsClips:
Corbett Signs Marcellus Shale Fee Into LawCorbett Signs Shale Well Impact Fee Into LawCorbett Approves Marcellus Shale FeeBradford Commissioner: Foolish Not To Accept Drilling Fee MoneyBradford Commissioners Disagree On Drilling FeeWhat's Next For PA's Impact Fee? Bradford Against FeeBradford Commissioners Disagree On Drilling FeeWashington County To Seek Marcellus FeesEditorial: Corbett's Gas Fee About To EvaporateRobinson Twp To Contest New Marcellus LawSouth Fayette Eyes Legal Action On Drilling BillFish & Boat Commission Grateful For Marcellus FeesPUC Eyes Private Firm For Impact Fee CollectionPUC Chair: Let Marcellus Play Come To UsPUC Would Get Shale Role Under Drilling BillEditorial: It Makes Sense For PUC To Deal With Drilling NE Counties To Raise Millions Or Nothing Under Drilling FeeHouse GOP: Marcellus Bill A Win For Jobs Norquist's No-Tax Pledge Can't Give Drill Fee The AxPA Natural Gas Levy Became InevitableVertical Exploratory Wells Won't Be Hit With Drilling FeeImpact Fee Bill Addresses Housing Needs
Health Officials: Drilling Law Disclosure Rules LaxOp-Ed: Natural Gas Fee May Be Too LateEditorial: Marcellus Fee? A Tax, StupidEditorial: Shale Drillers Got The Better Part Of Deal
Sustainable Funding For County Conservation Districts To Come From Drilling Fee
After years of discussion and scrutiny, and months of lively debate and negotiation, Gov. TomCorbett has signed a Marcellus Shale drilling fee, said Robert B. Maiden, Executive Director of thePA Association of Conservation Districts.“This is monumental for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, its citizens, businesses andcommunities,” said Maiden. “The economic importance and significance of the Marcellus Shaleand other natural gas formations cannot be denied, but the environmental health, conservationand safety of our natural resources must be a priority now and well into the future.”“This week, the majority of the legislature and Gov. Corbett demonstrated tremendousleadership to insure that our local communities and regions are provided with substantialresources,” continued Maiden. “These resources will allow our county conservation districts andcommunities to keep pace with the growing need for environmental safeguards, education and protection as the exploration and development of the shale continues well into the future here inPennsylvania.”The local impact fee will provide a dedicated funding stream to conservation districts.This new, stable stream of funding will allow the districts the opportunity to:-- Provide much-needed local support and expertise to conserve and protect our resources incounties with Marcellus Shale development;-- Support, protect and enhance the number one industry in Pennsylvania: Agriculture;-- Provide technical assistance to install numerous Best Management Practices, such as riparian buffers and streambank stabilization, to reduce flooding and protect the quality of our water -sedimentation is Pennsylvania’s number one water pollution issue;-- Provide important local support to help farmers meet the Chesapeake Bay Total MaximumDaily Load (TMDL) requirements without undue financial burden; and-- Assist municipalities with floodplain ordinances and stormwater management plans that protect homes and businesses from being flooded.The Districts will also continue to work in communities throughout the state on existingand additional utility right of ways, roads, bridges, sewage treatment, and water treatmentfacilities will be expanded or upgraded along with the expansion of the natural gas industry.Conservation District involvement is constant and will be requested and required as thisimportant resource is developed.In addition to its efforts to protect the environment from any impacts from natural gasdrilling, additional funding would continue the Districts’ efforts to help Pennsylvania meet thegoals outlined in the Chesapeake Bay Water Implementation Plan; improve and protect thestate’s water and air quality; administer stream bank erosion programs; and preserve valuablefarmland.
Rep. George: Natural Gas Industry Got Its Corbett Valentine
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Pa Environment Digest Feb. 20, 2012
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