Friday, November 9, 2012
The Public Utilities Commission said that while it does not agree with the court's decision, it will comply with it.
The Public Utilities Commission confirmed that it will release the local impact fee money associated with the state's new Marcellus Shale law to four local municipalities which had their oil and gas ordinances challenged and that were under review by the government agency. The state's Commonwealth Court late last month ordered that the agency "cease and disist" reviewing the ordinances. In a letter dated Tuesday and addressed to Solicitor John Smith, Bohdan R. Pankiw, chief counsel for the PUC wrote: "The Commission will comply with the interpretation set forth in that order and, as directed, will cease and desist from acting upon requests to review municipal ordinances." The letter also stated, "Consistent with this recent Commonwealth …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Who doesn't love a top-10 list? Here's ours! See what was tops in October.
We wanted to give you a look back at the month of October, and remind you of some of the hottest stories that were on Canon-McMillan Patch. So without further ado... (Drum roll please) 10. Commonwealth Court to PUC: 'Cease and Desist'—Release the Impact Fee Money 9. Range to Cecil: PUC Challenge Could Be Dropped for Private Meeting 8. UPDATE: Coroner Called to Scene of 980 Crash 7. Cecil Crash Victim Identified 6. Upper St. Clair Man Jailed on Homicide Charge 5. Withholding of Impact Fee: Immoral by Range Resources and Illegal by the Corbett Administration 4. Canonsburg Man Jailed for Corruption of Minor 3. UPDATED: Trick or Treat Guide for Canonsburg, Cecil and North Strabane 2. Canonsburg Police Searching for Missing Girl 1. News Nearby…
Friday, October 26, 2012
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 …
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Read the letter township Manager Don Gennuso wrote to Range Resources refusing the meeting—and explaining why.
Cecil Township Manager Don Gennuso said Wednesday that Range Resources has tried to leverage its “sway” with a leaseholder who filed for a Public Utilities Commission review of its Marcellus Shale gas ordinance in order to secure an informal meeting with the board of supervisors. Gennuso said the first request from Range Resources Local Government Affairs Manager Jim Cannon came in the form of a letter dated Oct. 5. “Range Resources is evaluating the prospect of resuming the permitting of drilling operations in Cecil Township. In light of this proposal, we would like to schedule a meeting with the supervisors to outline our plans and obtain input on the areas of concern that may still exist with officials regarding our activities,” the …
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
'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…
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
'(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 …
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The lawmaker is calling on the Corbett administration and his counterparts in the Senate 'to urge the PUC to release the money in accordance with the law.'
The state Public Utility Commission’s choice Monday to suspend Marcellus Shale impact fee payments to townships challenging the state’s drilling law "not only amounts to political extortion, but is more importantly a clear violation of the law," state Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil said in a statement. Cecil, Mt. Pleasant, Robinson and South Fayette townships are noted as communities whose money is “withheld pending resolution of the requests for review of existing ordinances” in documents released by the PUC on Monday outlining a $204 million statewide disbursement of impact fees. "However, Section 3308 of Act 13 states that municipalities would be ineligible to receive impact-fee funds only after the Public Utility Commission, Commonwealth …
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
All three state representatives from the Canon-McMillan area voted no on the bill—while Range Resources lauded the regulatory consistency the legislation brings.
State Rep. Jesse White voted "no" Wednesday on a Marcellus Shale bill that will enact an impact fee and various regulations—and said that anyone who did otherwise “will one day regret it.” “For those who think this is a good deal—for what we got, the price was just too high,” he said minutes after the 101-90 vote in the House. He continued: "For those who say this was a compromise bill, the question becomes a compromise between who? The lobbyists from the natural gas industry and the senators and representatives who agreed with them to begin with?" he asked. "This bill has no compromise. It was negotiated behind closed doors, without input from anyone who had a realistic view of challenges facing local communities—and topped off with half-…
Thursday, November 17, 2011
H.B. 1950 passed 107-76 on Thursday.
The state House on Thursday voted 107-76 to pass a bill that would regulate Marcellus Shale drilling—as well as enact a 1 percent impact fee. House Bill 1950 will would restrict the ability of local municipalities to govern drilling in their towns, establishes setbacks but did not include specific protections for schools or other areas such as parks. Under the terms of the bill, Marcellus Shale drilling would be a permitted use in all zoning districts. Compressor sites would be permitted in most zones, with a 750-foot setback requirement. State Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, and state Rep. Brandon Neuman voted no on the measure. The bill is now awaiting action in the state Senate. Editor's Note: Check back with Canon-McMillan Patch for further…
Monday, October 17, 2011
In this message to residents, state Sen. Tim Solobay talks about the new Legislative session.
It’s been a busy time around the sprawling 46th district, but I’m ready for the Legislature to get back to work in Harrisburg because there’s a lot left to be done. Last summer, I urged legislative leaders to add days to the Senate calendar to allow time for the long list that we have to consider, but we’re heading back with only 16 session days left and a lot of unanswered questions. Senate Republicans and Gov. Tom Corbett seem to be at odds on several issues, making the next month pretty unpredictable. Among the tasks is the consideration of the various Marcellus Shale impact fee/severance tax approaches, including one recently proposed by the governor. The Corbett administration has also announced a new school voucher proposal, but …
Tara Smith
1:37 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
you and the marcellus shale lol :P The missing girl and shop n save shooting was definitely in my tops for sure more ›