PennEnvironment: Oppose House Bill 1950

On behalf of PennEnvironment’s citizen members, I am writing in opposition to pending Marcellus Shale legislation, House Bill 1950, in its final vote.

Explainer

PennEnvironment

Dear Legislator,

On behalf of PennEnvironment’s citizen members, I am writing in opposition to pending Marcellus Shale legislation, House Bill 1950, in its final vote.

HB1950 has become the omnibus legislation offered to tackle some of the pressing and ongoing issues related to Marcellus Shale gas drilling in the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, the legislation has been drafted in a way to help the gas industry more than the residents of Pennsylvania.

Specifically, PennEnvironment asks you to oppose HB1950 because of language that will limit a municipality’s ability to protect its residents and weakens municipal zoning authorities. PennEnvironment also to supports a higher impact fee for the industry than the one currently in HB1950—one that comes into line with traditional impact fee or severance tax rates across the nation;  increased funding through the impact fee to renew Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener program; increased bonding to a rate that can cover the true potential costs of plugging, reclaiming, cleaning up and restoring gas drilling sites; and lastly, dramatic improvements to the environmental standards found in HB1950.

With these concerns in mind, we ask you to vote NO on final passage of HB1950.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email me to discuss this legislation, and thanks in advance for your consideration on this issue.

Sincerely,

David Masur
PennEnvironment Director