Tough regulations needed for gas drilling

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP

All who testified at the hearing said there should be a tax on drilling for natural gas through Marcellus Shale.

All the drilling for natural gas through Marcellus Shale formations in Pennsylvania could have severe impacts on the ecosystem if it's not more closely monitored and regulated, environmentalists told a state House of Representatives committee Wednesday.

State Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-31, organized the public hearing of the House Majority Policy Committee held at the La Salle University Bucks County Center in Newtown Township.

The drilling is being done on public and private lands in virtually every part of the state except Southeastern Pennsylvania, according to information provided at Wednesday's hearing. It uses a process called hydrofracking, where water mixed with certain chemicals is forced through the shale to fracture it and release the natural gas deposits.

All the people who testified Wednesday were environmentalists. Santarsiero said representatives from the natural gas industry were invited but said they couldn't make it. The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching representatives from the industry on Wednesday.

"This was absolutely not intended to be a one-sided view of the issue," Santarsiero said of Wednesday's hearing.

David Masur, director of the nonprofit environmental advocacy group PennEnvironment, testified that he agreed with ecologist and author Sandra Steingraber, who recently wrote that hydrofracking is the most important environmental issue of our time.

One of the main concerns of Masur and many other environmentalists and citizens is that the water left over from the drilling is not being stored or treated properly and could be making its way into drinking water.

"Here's the tip of the toxic iceberg in Pennsylvania from Marcellus Shale gas drilling," said Masur. "In the 18 months since it started, there's been a drinking water advisory for 325,000 residents of the Pittsburgh area, seven counties reporting methane gas in well water and nearly 1,500 violations of cornerstone environmental laws."

Masur said more than seven million acres in the state have already been leased for Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling. He handed out a list of recommendations including increased funding for the state Department of Environmental Protection so it can better monitor drilling, strict requirements that gas companies list all chemicals used in the hydrofracking process, a ban on all drilling within 1,000 feet of private wells and others.

Brady Russell, Eastern Pennsylvania director for Clean Water Action, testified that a moratorium should be issued on further drilling on both private and public lands in the state in order to allow the time for policymakers to determine and implement necessary regulations to better police natural gas drilling. He also had 12 other recommendations, including implementation of a tax on the drilling.

Santarsiero said he recently voted to institute a tax of 7 percent of the value of natural gas extracted from the drilling and to also issue a three-year moratorium on further drilling in state forests. He said both bills passed the House but are stuck in the Senate.

Money from the tax could be used to beef up the DEP, improve roads, bridges and other infrastructure throughout the state and give municipalities money to offset the impact of Marcellus Shale gas drilling in their communities, Santarsiero said. He said he would be willing to consider a proposal recently made by Gov. Ed Rendell to institute a tax that would be 3 percent in the first year, 4 percent the second year and 5 percent after that.

Rob Ciervo, chairman of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors and Santarsiero's Republican opponent in the November election, said a 7 percent tax on drilling is too high.

"I would support only enough of a tax that would make sure the DEP has all the staff and resources it needs to properly monitor these drilling sites," said Ciervo, who added he didn't know the percentage tax that would accomplish that goal.

"I certainly have concerns when you're talking about extracting natural gas from 4,000 feet deep into the ground," Ciervo added. "We need to make sure it's done safely. (But) We don't want to overtax a business that is creating new jobs in Pennsylvania, including in some economically depressed areas."

The 31st District includes Newtown Township, Newtown, Lower Makefield, Yardley and a small part of Upper Makefield.

Chris English can be reached at 215-949-4193 or cenglish@phillyBurbs.com