Politics & Government

Area Lawmakers: Vote No on Marcellus Shale Bills (An Open Letter)

Robinson Township's manager implores local lawmakers to oppose House Bill 1950.

Dear Local State Lawmakers,

As you are obviously aware at this point, there is a huge outcry over the House Finance Committee’s Bill (HB1950, attached) regarding Marcellus Shale and the ability of local municipalities to regulate themselves. 

While I know that there is a separate bill in the Senate being considered (SB1100, attached), it is important to point out the opposition to the House Bill.  As a member of the , I can tell you that our township is opposed to this bill. 

Find out what's happening in Canon-Mcmillanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I have spoken to several of my colleagues and the consensus is the same.  This Bill needs to be voted down. I have asked the Co-op to issue a statement signed by the 23 communities represented (most of which are in your districts, by the way) urging the House to vote against this Bill. 

We—at least in Robinson Township,Washington County—would urge you to please vote against this or any bill that takes away the rights of the local municipality to regulate themselves should it make it to the full Assembly.   

Find out what's happening in Canon-Mcmillanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I’m confident that the other municipalities feel the same. Not only is there state law to support local governance, but there is also state Supreme Court rulings protecting that right. To vote in favor of such provisions is an insult to the local municipalities, a snub at the state Supreme Court, and a caving in to the industry and their special interest groups such as the Marcellus Shale Coalition.

While we, or any other local municipality, should be in favor of business and industry bringing jobs and revenue to our communities, we should not be forced to do so without the ability to regulate operations within our boundaries. 

What makes Marcellus so special that they should not be required to comply with local zoning laws that any other business coming to a community would be required to follow? 

The answer is…NOTHING! 

They are no different than anyone else looking to do business in our communities. Local zoning allows municipalities the ability to protect themselves and their residents from companies who don’t want to play by the rules.  Ordinances vary from municipality to municipality and from type of business to type of business because each is unique. 

For example, a garbage dump is very different from a sexual-oriented business and the local rules address each appropriately. Marcellus well drilling is different from a convenience store, and the rules to operate each need to reflect that. The state has no place in dictating a generic set of rules that all municipalities would be forced to follow. 

Not only are businesses unique, but municipalities are unique as well. Everything from topography to population to growth patterns vary from place to place. To suggest that one set of rules fits all communities is short-sighted and irresponsible.

The industry would have you and us believe that they can’t compete fairly in Pennsylvania because they have so many different sets of rules to follow. The amount of money generated thus far by Marcellus drilling suggests otherwise.  This is not an industry hurting because of local regulation. 

This is an industry not accustomed to following the rules. The potential to repeat the coal debacle of decades ago and all of the impacts that were, and still are, associated with it are the very reason local municipalities need to retain the ability to regulate this industry at the local level. 

The industry argues that centralizing the rules would be beneficial to all municipalities in Pennsylvania. The truth is that it would benefit them. It would allow them to operate with little, if any oversight and without fear of reprisal if they break the rules. 

In a state that is already strapped financially, to suggest that a State agency be given the additional task of monitoring and policing the industry more than they are now is ludicrous. The only reason the industry plays by any of the rules now is because the local municipalities are there to set the standards and monitor their activities. Take that away and you’re opening Pandora’s box.

Regardless of which side of the aisle you sit on, big government doesn’t work when it comes to policing at the local level. Even in war, you have commanders at the top who understand that you can only win by allowing those in the field and on the ground the power to make decisions and have some control over what happens on the battlefield. 

This is a now a battlefield. 

The top commanders are the Environmental Protection Agency at the federal level, the Department of Environmental Protection at the state level, and there MUST be command and control at the field level (the municipalities). To do anything else is to ensure failure and destine this state to repeat the disasters of the coal industry from decades ago. It promotes anarchy in the industry and left unchecked, allows a greedy industry to continue to ruin a beautiful State with no regard for the people or land they affect.

I, our township, and the public urge you to not lose the battle. As our voice in Harrisburg, you have the power to help us be heard. I hope you make the right decision. 

We make our decisions at election time based on how those we elect to represent us do so. Show us we made the right decision and show the industry that this is still a government of, by, and for the people. The people and the municipalities that we comprise have spoken. Now, we urge you to carry that voice to Harrisburg.

Thank you for your time.

Richard A. Ward

Township Manager

Robinson Township, Washington County


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Canon-Mcmillan