Five Things You Need to Know This Week
Busy week—here are five things you need to know.
Editor's Note: Did we miss an event? Post it in the comments section! Thanks!
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Monday, February 18, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Lawmaker Criticizes DEP Refusal to Participate in Policy Hearing on Environmental Testing
He said that DEP Secretary Michael Krancer will not participate in an upcoming public hearing.
State Rep. Jesse White said that if he was Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Krancer, he wouldn't be able to look the people of Pennsylvania in the eye. White, D-Cecil, will host a policy committee hearing on the state Department of Environmental Protection’s response to environmental testing in Marcellus Shale regions from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 19 in the public meeting room of Washington Courthouse Square, 100 West Beau St., Washington, PA 15301. The event is open to the public, and Pennsylvania Cable News channel will record the hearing for future broadcast. The hearing will examine the DEP’s policies and procedures related to air- and water-quality testing near Marcellus Shale gas drilling sites in Pennsylvania, …
In this Article:
Roger
8:05 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
With all the excitement in the past couple of weeks regarding today's meeting, I see nothing about the meeting posted here. Or, didn't the meeting happen? more ›
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Range Resources to Sue Cecil Township
A notice was filed in Washington County court on Monday.
Southpointe-based Range Resources has filed a notice in Washington County court that it intends to sue Cecil Township. The one-page document was filed Monday. No further information on the suit was immediately available Tuesday. Editor's Note: Follow Canon-McMillan Patch for further details as they become available.
In this Article:
Amanda Gillooly
11:32 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Sorry - meant to put in an explanatory note when I deleted the two comments that were on this thread, but I got sidetracked with breaking news!!!! The first comment wasn't relevant to the story, and I took the second as a personal attack and deleted it for that reason. As always, if I may be of further assistance, just call or email me!! more ›
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Representin'
Five Big Issues for PA State Government in 2013
Here's what to look forward to in 2013.
With a new two-year session of the state Legislature set to begin on Jan. 1, the legislative branch hits the reset button on all the bills and issues left unresolved from the previous session. The 2012 elections should have little impact on what to expect from Harrisburg, with the House and Senate staying firmly in Republican control and the same leaders returning for the upcoming session. The most interesting development will be to watch how both legislative chambers handle Governor Corbett’s agenda as his 2014 re-election bid looms large over major policy decisions. Despite one-party rule, the Republicans were unable to come to consensus on issues such as school choice and privatization of the state liquor stores, while the issues they …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
White: Investigation Needed Into DEP Over 'Deceptive' Marcellus Shale Testing Practices
Testimony by a Department of Environmental Protection lab chief reveals the possibility of intentionally undisclosed water test results associated with Marcellus Shale drilling—which could cause potential health implications.
State Rep. Jesse White today called for state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for alleged misconduct and fraud revealed by sworn testimony given by a high-ranking DEP official. White said he received a letter and corresponding documents highlighting the sworn testimony of DEP Bureau of Laboratories Technical Director Taru Upadhyay, who was deposed in a lawsuit alleging nearby natural gas drilling operations contaminated drinking water supplies in Washington County, causing serious health issues. In the deposition, White indicated that Upadhyay said that the DEP was aware of water impacts from Marcellus Shale drilling, but no notices of violation were filed—what the…
In this Article:
imout
9:31 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
If the property owners aren't satisfied with the DEP's testing, they are free to have testing performed themselves. The DEP's role here is not to provide free testing to all owners for all possible contaminants. Their role is to determine in this case if contamination came from drilling activities. more ›
Friday, October 26, 2012
Commonwealth Court to PUC: 'Cease and Desist'—Release the Impact Fee Money
The court order was filed Friday over the withholding of four communities' local impact fee money owed them through Act 13—the state's new Marcellus Shale law.
The state Commonwealth Court today ordered that the state Public Utility Commission had no authority to review local gas drilling ordinances and subsequently withhold Marcellus Shale drilling impact fee payments in four townships challenging the state’s drilling law, announced state Rep. Jesse White. When a $204 million statewide disbursement of Marcellus shale drilling impact fees was announced Oct. 15, documents released by the PUC that day noted that Cecil, Mt. Pleasant, Robinson and South Fayette townships were designated as communities whose money was being “withheld pending resolution of the requests for review of existing ordinances." White said the PUC's move, calling it a "violation of state law and political extortion," and the …
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Me
8:31 am on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Why did you close the comments on Jeese White. Why are you protecting. him. He keeps posting. he know there will be comments. You let him post and you close the comments. I f you don't like a comment you delete . Why is that . more ›
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
On Point with Sen. Tim Solobay
Nearly $20 Million Coming to Local Communities Thanks to Marcellus Shale Impact Fee
'I encourage local communities to comply with the law while working to change it so they can take advantage of its benefits.'
The Public Utility Commission last week announced that communities in my district will get nearly $20 million to use for parks, police, social programs or other projects. The money comes from the Marcellus Shale impact fee, and cash-strapped local governments in Washington and Greene counties are receiving some of the highest totals in the state. In fact, one in five dollars headed to local communities for projects is coming to these two counties. When I addressed the 97th annual convention of Greene County Association of Township Officials at the county fairgrounds, most of what I heard is that it’s good news at a time when county and municipal governments could use some. (Greene County municipalities will receive a total of $4.5 million…
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Amanda Gillooly
12:28 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012
Me, My apologies. I meant to get that for you earlier. Let me give the township a call to see what I can get. If and once I get it, I will post it as a PDF. Is that fair? more ›
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Representin'
Withholding of Impact Fee: Immoral by Range Resources and Illegal by the Corbett Administration
'(Range Resources) is willing to hold nearly $1 million intended for roads, police and fire departments and parks in order to exert enough public confusion and political pressure to do whatever they want, with no accountability,' writes White.
This week, two major events dealing with Marcellus Shale and our local communities took place; you decide if they’re related or not. Today, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the Act 13 challenge, the lawsuit filed after all local zoning control over oil and gas operations was usurped by the Legislature. The Supreme Court decision may be one of the single most important ones in the history of Pennsylvania, particularly in heavily drilled areas such as Washington County. The municipalities leading the charge are Cecil, Robinson and Mt. Pleasant Townships in Washington County and South Fayette Township in Allegheny County. I’m proud to say I represent all four of them as a state legislator. On Monday, the Public Utility …
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Amanda Gillooly
1:37 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012
All right folks, this thread has become increasingly volatile. I am shutting off comments simply because I do not have the time to constantly monitor these comments. However: If you would like to blog or write a letter to the editor, please feel free. My email is amanda.gillooly@patch.com. more ›
Monday, October 15, 2012
Marcellus Shale Impact Fee Brings in More Than $204 Million for Communities
But Cecil and three other local communities will have their portions withheld until the state reviews their drilling ordinances.
Gov. Tom Corbett today announced that Act 13 has generated more than $204.2 million through the new impact fee. Most of this money will be distributed directly to local communities across the state—except for in the case of Cecil Township, Mount Pleasant, Robinson and South Fayette. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that those communities will have their share of the local impact fee witheld until their ordinances governing drilling have been reviewed by the state and deemed in compliance with Act 13. In all four instances, residents lobbied the Public Utilities Commission to review those ordinances. In addition, Range Resources also filed a request for South Fayette's ordinance to be reviewed. Reached Monday afternoon, Cecil Township …
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proud American
10:03 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
I worry about my health, love the enviroment, my quality of life and I own property so its value is importnat to me and I don't have a lease. Now that this issue is cleared up I still support the need for energy independence and the rights of landowners who are entitled to use what they have paid taxes on. If anyone is hurting the enviroment in Cecil Township take a good look at all the housing … more ›
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Representin'
The Problem is the Process in the State Legislature
'This Republican leadership has more than doubled the procedural abuse, and more importantly, they’re doing it because they don’t want to put up any votes that may give them heartburn politically, which is a cowardly approach to governing.'
One of the most common criticisms of the state Legislature is “they can’t get anything done” in Harrisburg. In many ways, those critics are more correct than they probably realize. If you want to reduce the biggest obstacle hurting Pennsylvania down to just one word, that word would be “process." Sit back and pay attention to a rare glimpse into the real inner workings of our state government, and try not to throw up your breakfast along the way. Our system of legislative government hasn’t changed much in more than 200 years. A legislator introduces a bill, the leadership of the majority party brings certain bills up for debate, individual legislators introduce amendments to those bills that are voted on, and then the amended bill is voted…
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proud American
3:03 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2012
To show I practice what I preach I like Senator Solobay-D attended a symposium he helped sponser a symposium of the affect of the oil and gas industry in Washington County and the state. There are jobs being created so people are being hired personally I know quite a few. Senator Murphy-R he does a lot of work for the military and on social security things that I feel are very important. Rep … more ›
Amanda Gillooly
10:18 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Thank you, Ms. Coen, for the kind words! I will! If I can ever be of further assistance, please feel free to call me anytime! 724-510-5659! more ›