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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Deberah Kula |
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Kula reappointed to state Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board
HARRISBURG, Dec. 2 – State Rep. Deberah Kula, D-Fayette/Westmoreland, announced that she has been reappointed to serve on the state Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board by Speaker of the House Keith R. McCall, D-Carbon.
Kula said the 13-member board, which was established in 1984, assists the state Department of Environmental Protection in expanding reclamation funds provided by the state and advises the DEP secretary on all matters pertaining to mining and reclamation.
"I am pleased to have been appointed to the board, and I look forward to addressing the problems and issues facing Pennsylvania with regard to mining and land reclamation," Kula said.
"It is no secret that leasing state lands for natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation sparked debate during budget negotiations," she said.
"Moving forward, the state will need to use extreme caution in developing this natural resource to ensure we do not destroy the environment for economic gain. The potential revenue we could generate from drilling will be fruitless if we have to spend even more to correct environmental damage," Kula said.
The advisory role of the board also covers Title IV of the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, which relates to abandoned mine land reclamation issues.
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