White: Marcellus Shale Co-Op Plans Will 'Move Forward Immediately'

More than 100 local residents and representatives from nearly 20 municipalities scattered themselves throughout auditorium to listen to and share their own ideas about forming a Marcellus Shale Co-Op.

And event organizer State Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, said he was encouraged by the turnout.

“I don't care if only three people came. This isn't a (public relations) stunt. It's about getting stuff done, and I think with the municipalities that came out tonight we're off to a good start,” said White.

More than 30 representatives from about 20 municipalities joined him at the meeting to discuss the concerns and questions they are facing as throughout the area.

White hosted the event to start a conversation and  gauge the interest in creating a group, which he said would be composed of one or two representatives from each participating community.

Those representatives, he said, would set the standards and scope for the co-op, which will help address issues related to the drilling and processing of natural gas locally.

Four Cecil supervisors — Mike Debbis, Frank Ludwin, Andy Schrader and Tom Casciola — attended the meeting, one of whom said this type of organization is exactly what the township needs.

“Any time you have a big group, you have a better voice than standing alone. This co-op is what is going to be a starting point for all of it,” Schrader said.

The theme of standing together and sharing was repeated through the evening by representatives from Robinson, Mt. Pleasant and Chartiers townships, a sentiment echoed by many residents in attendance, as well.

One concern shared by nearly all who spoke was the financial impact Marcellus Shale operations are having on local budgets and how to ensure safety measures are being taken by the industry. How to create balanced ordinances that both permit drilling and protect the residents and the townships was also a concern.

According to White, one initiative being discussed in the state Legislature would allow local municipalities to charge impact fees for expenses incurred from those operations; an issue the legislator said has bipartisan support.

He said impact fees may now be imposed upon commericial and residential developers for transportation-related fees incurred by local communities. But under current state law, there is no mechanism to allow for communities to assess impact fees on the Marcellus Shale industry, White explained.

The ability to charge impact fees would prove to be a major financial relief for the small communities and budgets that are dealing with these issues, White contended.

In addition to the municipal representatives getting the chance to speak, the floor was also opened up for public comment.

Dale Risker, a Smith Township resident and president of the Southpointe Chamber of Commerce, said he believes there is opportunity for townships to benefit from Marcellus Shale, as long as everyone involved does their part.

“It will get better as long as we have the leadership and the interest from the public," he said. "I'd like to see the industry fund the Co-Op. I don't think the public should pay for this. I think we should go as the Co-Op and ask them to pay for it."

White on Wednesday said that was the common theme Tuesday: that tax payers shouldn't have to bear the brunt of Marcellus Shale-related operations in their communities.

"The consensus seems to be that if the industry isn't paying any severance tax, then they should at least offer to help offset the cost of local government," he said.

Other goals White would like to see addressed by the Co-Op include ordinance sharing and a local natural gas advisory board. 

He confirmed that based on the response he received Tuesday, his office is going to "immediately move forward" with plans to form the co-op.

White said letters will be sent to all the municipalities in his legislative district asking them to formally opt into the program. It will also ask those communities to appoint two municipal representatives to participate in the group.

Those communities will have 45 days to respond, which he said would allow those boards to discuss the issue at their specific public meetings.

Although no formal representative from the Marcellus Shale Coalition was present at the meeting, the group submitted the following statement related to the concept of a Marcellus Shale Co-Op.

"A healthy, fact-based dialogue in the communities where we operate is a goal that our industry seeks to achieve each day. Forums on the local level that advance these discussions, focused on science and facts, are absolutely critical," spokesman Travis Windle said. "At the same time, it’s important to recognize the fact that (the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection) has increased its regulatory staff fourfold since 2008."

The statement continued: The increase in regulatory staff was made possible in part through increased permitting fees, a proposal that the industry supported to ensure that Pennsylvania taxpayers would not have to shoulder any financial burden.”

  Editor Amanda Gillooly contributed to this report.