Is Range Resources Spokesman Lobbying or Lying? You Decide

'Wastewater impoundments are simply not an industry best practice; they’re little more than toxic waste dumps, and new and better technologies absolutely exist,' state Rep. Jesse White writes.

A letter to the editor published on April 24 in the Washington Observer-Reporter from Range Resources' spokesman (and registered lobbyist) Matt Pitzarella stated: "Range is on record on countless occasions being in support of, and in fact lobbying for, not against, smarter and tighter regulations that adapt to new and emerging technologies." Mr. Pitzarella’s statement is stunning because less than 24 hours earlier, every member of the state House of Representatives was lobbied to do exactly the opposite. The Marcellus Shale Coalition, speaking on behalf of Range Resources, circulated e-mails to urge a vote against my amendments to HB 302, 303 and 308. My amendments would ban open air impoundments for the disposal of hazardous wastewater …

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Gerry Bell

7:42 pm on Sunday, May 5, 2013

I don't have a comment on what Mrs. Cowden said at the hearing, but your approach to commenting is pretty low. The leases that were just signed are only a fraction of what she controls, so they're not that earthshattering.   more ›

Marcellus Shale Coalition Launches 'Learn About Shale' Community Conversation

The effort builds upon 'Ask About Shale' listening campaign.

Today, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center during the Shale Gas Insight 2012 conference, the Southpointe-based Marcellus Sale Coalition announced the launch of Learn About Shale—a community conversation designed to answer questions submitted by the public during the organization’s Ask About Shale initiative. Ask About Shale, during a three-month period, generated more than 600 questions through various community listening sessions, online submissions, post cards and telephone surveys on a range of topics, including the economic and environmental benefits of natural gas, and government’s role in the natural gas development process. Learn About Shale aims to answer each straightforwardly, leveraging subject matter expertise from industry …

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MSC Releases Recommended Practice for Pre-Drill Water Sampling

The Marcellus Shale Coalition released the recommendation on Tuesday.

The Marcellus Shale Coalition—headquartered in Southpointe—on Tuesday released a recommended practice for pre-drill water supply surveys. This is the third in a series of recommended practices—all aimed at reinforcing the MSC’s Guiding Principles to “continuously improve our practices and seek transparency in our operations” while furthering a fact-based dialogue that encourages responsible American natural-gas development. Pennsylvania regulations require natural gas producers to sample and test—with the owner’s consent—all water supplies within 2,500 feet of a proposed Marcellus Shale natural gas well. These pre-drill tests, which are conducted by certified laboratories, provide a baseline analysis of water chemistry prior to site …

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Local Officials React to Ruling on Marcellus Shale Legislation

Local lawmakers gave their two cents on the issue, while Southpointe-based Range Resources—a Marcellus Shale industry leader—remained mum.

One local lawmaker called Thursday’s state Commonwealth Court ruling to strike down portions of Act 13—the state’s newly enacted legislation regulating Marcellus Shale drilling—a  “major victory” for residents and local government bodies. State Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, was an outspoken opponent of the bill, and he said after the ruling that he hopes the decision to give the power of regulating the zoning aspects of Marcellus Shale drilling back to local government bodies instead of the state will promote “responsible” development of shale play. "Hopefully we can now stop the bullying and the buying-of-influence and truly work together to develop a responsible approach that will allow development of Marcellus Shale while creating a …

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Amanda Gillooly

10:18 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

This thread has gotten off the subject - and has devolved into name calling. For this reason, I am shutting off the comments. If you would like to speak with me call me at 724-510-5659 or email me at amanda.gillooly@patch.com.   more ›

Marcellus Shale Industry Again Denied in Act 13 Challenge

This time, the Supreme Court on Friday denied a request by Marcellus Shale industry representatives to be a party to the challenge against Act 13.

The Supreme Court on Friday denied representatives from the Marcellus Shale industry the opportunity to participate in an appeal of the injunction against Act 13 filed by multiple municipalities—including Cecil—a doctor and a non-profit. The Public Utilities Commission and the state appealed the Commonwealth Court decision to grant an injunction in the case regarding the zoning portions of the law. Industry representatives had also asked the Commonwealth Court to be a party to the suit at the level of the proceedings. That was also denied. Senate President Pro Tem Joseph Scarnati and House Speaker Samuel H. Smith, also moved to intervene on behalf of the Legislature on appeal—as they did on at the Commonwealth level. No decision has been …

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MSC Supports RAND Conclusions on Use of Mine Water in Hydraulic Fracturing

'The prospect of using mine water is just one more way that our industry is working to preserve water resources, reduce transportation and logistical burdens, and even more closely connect the economic and environmental benefits of American natural gas de

Marcellus Shale Coalition President Kathryn Z. Klaber on Tuesday highlighted conclusions released this week by the RAND Corporation in support of the use of coal mine water in hydraulic fracturing operations in the Marcellus Shale and other regional shale plays in the Appalachian Basin. The MSC is headquartered in Southpointe. The MSC-commissioned RAND report follows a roundtable hosted by RAND in late 2011, at which researchers, hydraulic fracturing operators, industry representatives, the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, legal experts, and regulatory representatives from Pennsylvania and neighboring states addressed the feasibility of using mine water for drilling and hydraulic fracturing of shale gas wells…

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Your Turn

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 Marcellus Municipal Co-op, I can tell you that our township is opposed to this bill.  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) …

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UPDATED: Proposed Marcellus Shale Legislation Gets Mixed Reviews

While state Rep. Jesse White and others bemoaned the legislation unveiled Wednesday, the Marcellus Shale Coalition lauded the move.

Editor's Note: This story was modified at 10:37 a.m. to include a statement from Range Resources. State Rep. Jesse White lamented legislation unveiled Wednesday that would implement an impact fee and pre-empt local ordinaces regarding Marcellus Shale—saying that it doesn't do enough. "If this bill is approved, it would be easier for someone to put a compressor station in your backyard than for you to put an addition on your house," he said. "Some people have called Marcellus Shale drilling the goose that lays the golden eggs, and I agree. But just because a goose lays golden eggs doesn't mean you let it run around pooping on your yard." He said he wanted to be clear: He is for drilling. "I'm for drilling. I am for jobs," White, D-Cecil, …

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Ed Vicheck

9:00 am on Thursday, December 8, 2011

Amanda, thank you for stepping in. I have been writing over at Wordpress for 8 years now and when it gets into an argument instead of a debate I shut the comments down.   more ›

Reaction to Corbett's Marcellus Shale Plan a Mixed Bag

State Sen. Tim Solobay said he was surprised the proposal had 'juice,' while state Rep. Jesse White said he wished legislation had been set forth instead.

Reaction to Gov. Tom Corbett's plan this week to impose a local impact fee on Marcellus Shale drilling was mixed—with some local legislators saying they were surprised by how much "juice" was in the plan, while others wished a bill would have been set forth instead. Corbett on Monday announced his plans to implement numerous recommendations from his Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, including changes to enhance environmental standards, an impact fee, and a plan to help move Pennsylvania toward energy independence. As a result of the public Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission meetings, there is now a "sensible and fair plan to put before the General Assembly," Corbett said. As a part of this proposal, Corbett announced a series of …

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