Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Cecil-based Consol Energy receives approval to begin Marcellus shale gas drilling on airport land.
Allegheny County Council has approved an ordinance authorizing the lease of more than 9,000 acres of land surrounding Pittsburgh International Airport for Marcellus shale gas extraction. Council members approved the ordinance earlier this evening. Much of the land in question is located in Moon and Findlay townships. The Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports the measure was approved in a 9-to-4 vote with one abstention. The lease will enable drilling to take place on county-owned land for the extraction of "oil, gas, natural gas liquids, and other materials," according to a statement from the county. With the ordinance, the Allegheny County Airport Authority has entered into a 20-year agreement with Cecil-based energy provider Consol …
Monday, September 24, 2012
The free 'Understanding Shale Gas Exploration & Development' session is open to the public.
Penn State Extension will host “Understanding Shale Gas Exploration & Development” from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the Allegheny County Extension Office, 400 North Lexington St., third floor, in Point Breeze. The goal of the program is to provide attendees with a greater understanding of the impacts of shale gas exploration on leasing, water quality and the community, as well as needs that homeowners and community members should address if they hold property in shale gas areas. Scheduled speakers include Penn State Extension educators Jon Laughner and Dana Rizzo, as well as Agricultural Law Resource & Reference Center Director Ross Pifer. The discussion will include the current and future outlook for shale development, …
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The request to deny the motion to intervene in an appeal of Act 13 by two of the state's top Republican leaders was filed Wednesday by the challengers to the law.
Attorneys for a cluster of communities, medical doctor and nonprofit challenging Pennsylvania's new law governing Marcellus Shale play on Wednesday asked the state Supreme Court to deny the request of two top state Republican leaders to intervene in an appeal of Act 13. State Senator Pro Temore Joe Scarnati and state Leader of the House Rep. Samuel H. Smith made the request to intervene in the appeal, which was filed a day after the Commonwealth Court ruled that portions of the new law dealing with zoning was unconstitutional last month. In its motion, attorneys for the Act 13 challengers, which include the communities of Cecil and Peters townships, said Scarnati and Smith's request should be denied for several reasons—including the fact …
Friday, August 17, 2012
A caveat in state law had lawyers arguing in Commonwealth Court Wednesday over a legal technicality that left Act 13 provisions in effect despite an earlier ruling indicating they were unconstitutional.
Cecil attorney John Smith said Thursday that 99 out of 100 municipalities in Pennsylvania might not have realized it, but despite a Commonwealth Court ruling that struck down portions of Act 13—the state’s new Marcellus Shale law—as unconstitutional July 26, the provisions were still technically in effect the next day. That’s because of a caveat in state law dictating that the decisions of a lower court in which the state is a defendant are stayed until an appeal is hashed out. The state appealed the ruling July 27. That’s why Smith said he travelled to Harrisburg to argue that the Commonwealth Court reinstate its order—telling the judge that it would cause “chaos” at the municipal level and give officials a no-win scenario if the law was …
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The state Commonwealth Court issued its opinion Thursday morning—calling those provisions unconstitutional.
The state Commonwealth Court on Thursday struck down portions of Pennsylvania’s newly enacted legislation governing Marcellus Shale operations—also known as Act 13—as unconstitutional. In the 54-page opinion filed by President Judge Dan Pellegrini, stated: “Petitioners allege that they have close to 150 unconventional Marcellus Shale wells drilled within their borders, and Act 13 prevents them from fulfilling their constitutional and statutory obligations to protect the health, safety and welfare of their citizens, as well as public natural resources from the industrial activity of oil and gas drilling. Petitioners allege that Act 13 requires them to modify many of their zoning laws.” The petitioners, which included a cluster of local …
Monday, June 25, 2012
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, 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 made on that …
Thursday, June 7, 2012
A panel of seven judges heard the argument Wednesday morning.
A panel of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court judges Wednesday morning heard oral arguments in the legal challenge to Act 13—the state’s newly passed law governing Marcellus Shale drilling activities. Seven judges heard the arguments from lawyers representing the state, as well as those representing a cluster of communities—including Cecil Township—which filed the constitutional challenge to the portion of the act that eliminated local zoning control. Cecil attorney John Smith, who represents the communities, doctor and nonprofit making the challenge, said Wednesday afternoon that the proceeding went as well as can be expected—and added that the courtroom was standing-room only. “The president judge understood and framed our argument,” he …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Opponents of Pennsylvania's Act 13 continue legal challenges, citing erosion of local jurisdiction.
The flurry of legal activity surrounding Pennsylvania’s new drilling law continues. Attorneys representing seven municipalities and other entities opposing state Act 13 filed further motions Wednesday with Commonwealth Court in attempts to strike down portions of the legislation. At issue is the diminished ability of local government to regulate oil and gas activities. Opponents contend that the law “deprives municipal officials of carrying out their legally binding duty to protect air, water and natural environmental values,” according to a lawsuit filed in March by seven municipalities and other entities. Cecil Township attorney John Smith, who represents the suit’s petitioners, said Wednesday’s actions seek to prevent representatives …
Friday, April 13, 2012
The forum is from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 21 in the auditorium at Ambridge Area High School and focuses on the Ambridge Reservoir and the Service Creek watershed.
The public is invited to a forum called "Can We Protect Our Water?" to be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 21 in the auditorium at Ambridge Area High School. Steve White, a member of the Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Committee, said experts will speak about the history of Marcellus Shale, the rapid development of gas drilling and the risks and challenges that hydrofracking operations in the Service Creek watershed would pose. Panelists will answer questions written on cards available at the beginning of the forum. After the panel there will be an opportunity for comments and discussion. The Service Creek watershed and the Ambridge Reservoir are designated as specially protected for high-quality water and protected for cold …
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Cecil Attorney John Smith said he is hopeful a hearing will be set in Commonwealth Court soon.
Lawyers for a cluster of muncipalities, one organization and a medical doctor who have challenged the state's new Marcellus Shale regulations—known as Act 13—have asked the Commonwealth Court for an expedited hearing for injunctive relief. Attorney John Smith, of Cecil, who is spearheading the legal challenge, said Tuesday that he is hopeful that the Commonwealth Court will set a hearing soon to consider the request. The goal, he said, is that an injunction would be granted, which would delay the implementation of Act 13 until the court can hear the case, and decide the merits of the constitutional challenge. Act 13 is set to go into effect April 14. Cecil Township, Peters Township, South Fayette, Mt. Pleasant Township and Robinson …
Elize Rodriguez
12:31 am on Sunday, July 29, 2012
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