The April 21 PA Environment Digest is now available. CLICK HERE to Print The Entire PA Environment Digest.
20 Business, Oil, Coal, Aggregate, Farm, Power Groups Oppose Act 13 Court Ruling
Monday a diverse group of 20 business, oil, coal, aggregate, farm, electric power, builder and chambers of commerce wrote to members of the Senate and House saying the PA Supreme Court’s ruling on the Act 13 drilling law and the Environmental Rights Amendment threatens the ability of Pennsylvania to retain and grow existing businesses and attract new ones.
Straight Talk: Article I, Section 27 PA Environmental Rights Amendment Court Decision
By John A. Arway, Executive Director, Fish & Boat Commission
On December 19, 2013, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued an opinion that held certain parts of our new Oil and Gas Act (Act 13 of 2012) unconstitutional.
Although I am a biologist and not a lawyer, I have spent many hours in court and on the witness stand as an expert witness defending the rights of our aquatic resources; however, I will not try to explain the implications of the decision to the law.
My primary interest in studying the decision focused on the opinion of the three justices who explained their concerns about how the law was inconsistent with Article 1, Section 27 of our state constitution.
DEP To CAC: Chapter 78 Drilling Regs Will Not Be Finalized Until 2015
Hayley Book, Director of DEP’s Policy Office, told DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council Tuesday the agency was not likely to finalize proposed changes to Chapter 78 drilling regulations until sometime in 2015.
DCNR Releases First Report On The Impacts Of Drilling In State Forest Lands
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wednesday released a copy of its first monitoring report on the impact of shale gas drilling in State Forests based on 15 different monitoring values developed by agency scientists with input from its advisory committees.
The report covers activities from 2008 to 2012 and was released at a meeting of the agency’s Natural Gas Advisory Committee in State College.
DEP Releases 2014 Susquehanna River Sampling Plan
The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday released a work plan outlining efforts to continue studying and sampling the Susquehanna River basin throughout 2014. The plan includes analysis of water quality, water flow, sediment, pesticides, hormones, invertebrates, fish tissue and more.
