December 21, 2014
December 20, 2014
December 19, 2014
Dec. 22 PA Environment Digest Now Available
Dec. 22 PA Environment Digest Now Available. Click Here To Print Entire Digest
Gov.-Elect Wolf Names More Than 250 To Transition Agency Review Teams
Gov.-elect Wolf Monday named more than 250 people as members of his Agency Review Teams. Click Here for a complete list of Review Team members. Here are some key agency review team appointments.
Sen. Brewster, Rep. Harper Propose Severance Tax For Education, Pensions
Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny) Tuesday said he will soon introduce a plan that would earmark revenue from a new shale gas extraction tax for public schools while retaining current well impact fees that support local government operations. Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) announced Thursday she is introducing legislation to place a severance tax on natural gas drilling in the Commonwealth.
Representatives of Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania, the Marcellus Shale Coalition and the PA Independent Oil and Gas Association Tuesday held a press conference to again express their opposition to a severance tax on natural gas production.
New York Dept. Of Health Recommends Fracking Ban
The New York Department of Health has completed its public health review of high-volume hydraulic fracturing and Acting DOH Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker recommended Wednesday that high-volume hydraulic fracturing should not move forward in New York State. Dr. Zucker announced his findings and recommendations at a Cabinet Meeting in Albany.
Rep. Godshall, Rep. Harper Plan To Introduce Water Well Standards Bills
Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery) and Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) have both announced plans to reintroduce legislation setting standards for water well constructions. Legislation-- House Bill 343 (Miller-R-York)-- setting water well standards died in the Senate this year, after passing the House.
DEP Publishes Interim Final Policy Implementing Mandatory Stream Buffer Changes
The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the December 20 PA Bulletin asking for comments on an interim final policy implementing Act 162 of 2014 relating to mandatory stream buffer requirements. The policy takes effect December 20, but DEP is asking for public comments by February 18.
EPA: Coal Ash Not A Hazardous Waste, Sets New Disposal Rules
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Friday announced the first national regulations to provide for the safe disposal of coal combustion residuals (coal ash) from coal-fired power plants.
PA Supreme Court Releases Special Counsel Report On Explicit Emails
The PA Supreme Court Friday released a copy of the Special Counsel’s report on explicit emails sent and received by members of the Court from the Office of Attorney General.
The report concluded no emails of an improper nature were sent by or to any Justice of the Supreme Court to any representative of the Office of Attorney General other than from former Justice Seamus P. McCaffery.
A copy of the report is available online.
December 18, 2014
PUC Approves Conditional License For Lyft To Operate Statewide
The Public Utility Commission Thursday approved with conditions the application by Lyft to offer experimental service for two years throughout the Commonwealth, excluding the City of Philadelphia.
The Commission voted 4-1 to issue the company an experimental license once the company complies with a list of conditions outlined in the Order. The conditions are designed to ensure driver integrity, vehicle safety and insurance protections. The Order containing the conditions will be available on the Commission’s website this afternoon.
“The Commission…has shaped conditions that allow for this exciting new business model to thrive in the Commonwealth, while at the same time ensuring that the necessary public protections are in place,” said Commission Chairman Robert F. Powelson and Commissioner Pamela A. Witmer in a joint statement. “To that end, the authority we move to grant today shall not take effect until Lyft has demonstrated full and complete compliance with the conditions set forth in the Orders.”
“I am concerned that the safety of drivers, passengers and other members of the public will be unnecessarily compromised under the applicant’s current business model,” said Commission Vice Chairman John F. Coleman Jr. in a dissenting statement.
“I believe that this type of service can be beneficial to the public, especially in underserved neighborhoods throughout the Commonwealth,” said Commissioner Gladys M. Brown in a statement. “This Commission is certainly not against new and innovative services, but we have a responsibility to uphold the laws as they are currently written.”
The service will not be licensed in Pennsylvania until the company has demonstrated full compliance with the list of conditions. If the company rejects the conditions, it will be not licensed to operate anywhere in the state, and its current Emergency Temporary Authority in Allegheny County will be immediately revoked.
Even with the conditional approval, which is good for two years, the Commission continues to maintain that a legislative solution for transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber is the best answer for Pennsylvania.
The Commission continues to work with the General Assembly to pass legislation that will create a new category of passenger service designed to recognize the TNC business model and refine the regulatory approach in Pennsylvania.NewsClips:
PUC Grants Lyft Experimental License
Rep. Harper Proposes Severance Tax To Help Fund Public School Pension Costs
Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) announced Thursday she is introducing legislation to place a severance tax on natural gas drilling in the Commonwealth.
The tax rate would be competitive with nearby shale drilling states, and the revenue it generates would be directed to public school employee pension costs. The Public School Employees’ Retirement System currently has an unfunded liability that exceeds $32 billion.
“As this industry continues to grow, we have an opportunity to generate much-needed revenue to meet the ongoing economic challenges facing our state,” Rep. Harper said. “My proposal strikes the appropriate balance between keeping this job-creating industry competitive and capitalizing on the opportunity to protect our school taxpayers from skyrocketing pension costs.”
The tax would be in addition to impact fees assessed on drilling under Act 13 of 2012. Those fees are used to address infrastructure and other impacts in communities where drilling takes place, and to contribute to several statewide environmental programs. So far, the impact fee has generated more than $630 million.
“The impact fee has been very effective in meeting the needs of drilling communities and the Commonwealth’s environment overall, and my plan would not change one thing about the collection or distribution of these funds,” Rep. Harper said.
Rep. Harper’s proposal would assess a tax of 3.5 percent of the gross value of units severed at the wellhead. It is estimated the tax would generate more than $400 million annually
Rep. Harper is currently seeking co-sponsors for the measure and will formally introduce it in early January.
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