|
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Mike Hanna |
|
Hanna to lt. governor: State should lead Marcellus Shale efforts
State representative urges Corbett administration to support drilling tax
HARRISBURG, June 14 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, today sent a letter to Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley urging him and the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission to recommend the state take a lead role in coordinating efforts to manage the local impacts of natural gas drilling.
"It is the role of state government to protect the people of Pennsylvania and ensure the land, water and air are safe," Hanna wrote. "It makes eminent sense that the state should take the lead role in coordinating and managing the impacts of this burgeoning industry on local communities, the environment and critical infrastructure."
Gov. Tom Corbett named Cawley chairman of the advisory commission, which is expected to deliver a report with recommendations to the governor by July 22.
Hanna noted in his letter that more than 120 natural gas wells have been drilled in Clinton and Centre counties, and that dozens more have been permitted. He said the rush of activity has caused unforeseen impacts in local communities.
"While the economic benefits of this activity are certainly welcome, it's become clear that the environmental and infrastructure impacts are so acute and so widespread that our counties and local communities are becoming overwhelmed," Hanna wrote.
Rather than overburdening local governments, Hanna suggested the state should lead the coordination of efforts to manage and reduce the impact of Marcellus Shale drilling on local communities.
"It is apparent that better coordination of state agencies and better regional planning are needed to anticipate and mitigate the impacts of this development boom," he wrote.
Hanna also noted that a state-led effort to coordinate the Marcellus Shale natural gas development would require additional revenues. He said a drilling tax on natural gas companies in the Marcellus Shale should be enacted to help fund that effort.
"I continue to be mystified as to why you and Governor Corbett refuse to consider a reasonable and responsible extraction tax on those companies that drill for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale – despite the fact that every other major gas-producing state has such a tax," Hanna wrote to Cawley.
"I urge you, the commission and Governor Corbett to do the right thing, acknowledge that this industry is here to stay, and support a reasonable tax on these multi-billion-dollar companies," he continued.
"After all, they can afford to pay their fair share of taxes. My constituents, on the other hand, cannot afford to have their land, water, roads and bridges destroyed because of a failure of this Commonwealth to protect them from the very real impacts of this industry."