House Republicans tonight ended debate on their Marcellus Shale bill-- House Bill 1950 (Ellis-R-Butler)-- by voting 105 to 88 to move the bill to Second Consideration by making a motion for the previous question.
The motion ends the ability of members to offer amendments to the bill without suspending the rules. Suspending the rules requires a two-thirds vote.
The bill was then referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
The House did consider 12 more amendments, 9 of the amendments were adopted and the remainder were voted down or withdrawn.
Amendments were added by Rep. John Mahr (R-Allegheny) to make certain reports required by the Oil and Gas Act public records, requiring the soundproofing of compressor stations within 2,500 feet of a dwelling, requiring the drilling fee to be paid whether a Marcellus well is producing or not and several technical amendments.
Another amendment by Rep. Mahr to increase the bonding amount for the reconstruction of roads from $6,000 to $250,000 per mile was defeated 151 to 42. An amendment by Rep. Bud George (D-Clearfield) gives residents living between 2,500 to 5,500 feet of a well the right to a pre-drilling survey.
An amendment offered by Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) to require DEP to adopt protocols for air contamination emissions was also adopted.
The House will reconvene Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
