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For Immediate Release
January 27, 2012
Contact: Sally Kohr
(717) 787-4651
Op-ed: Environmental Concerns Take
Center Stage in Marcellus Shale Debate
by Senator Rich
Alloway II (R-33)
In recent weeks, both the House and Senate have passed similar proposals to
regulate the Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling industry and impose a local
impact fee to protect host communities. While the differences between the two
bills are ironed out in a conference committee over the next several weeks, it
is important to note that both proposals include significant environmental
protections that are necessary to protect our environment. Ensuring the drilling
industry can operate safely without threatening the safety of our communities
should be our highest priority.
Impact fees and infrastructure improvements are important considerations, but
our first and greatest concern must be protecting water quality in our
communities. Both bills include important environmental safeguards to protect
drinking water supplies, such as increasing setback requirements from streams,
water wells, buildings and public water supplies. Legislation also includes a
requirement for well operators who affect a public or private water supply to
replace it with a new source that meets the requirements of the Safe Drinking
Water Act. A statewide toll-free number would be established to report any cases
of water contamination. Well bonding requirements and civil and criminal
penalties would be increased to prevent taxpayers from footing the bill for any
environmental hazards caused by drilling companies, including remediation for
abandoned wells.
In addition to these water quality and environmental remediation measures,
the Senate also approved legislation recently that would ensure emergency
responders can respond to any potential crisis at wellsites. The legislation
requires drillers to prepare emergency plans and share these plans with first
responders. The bill also requires drilling companies to provide the location of
all wells and access roads to ensure emergency responders do not lose precious
seconds when responding to an emergency. These measures are essential to protect
not only our environment, but the safety of workers. I hope the House approves
these safety measures as soon as possible.
The drilling industry will have a considerable presence in the state for
generations, and Marcellus Shale presents a tremendous opportunity to improve
our economy and promote family-sustaining jobs. However, it is our
responsibility to ensure these goals can be accomplished without causing
irreparable damage to our environment. I hope the General Assembly can pass a
responsible plan as soon as possible to extend these protections to Pennsylvania
communities. | 
