Pennsylvania Environmental Council
PEC Statement on Marcellus Legislation
PEC today released the following statement on the pending HB1950 Conference Committee Report:
The enemy of the good is the perfect, and while this legislation is not perfect, the people of Pennsylvania are better served by passage of this bill now than to wait another year or longer for something stronger.
PEC to Leadership in Harrisburg: Its Time to Act
PEC sent the following message to the Governor and Leadership in the General Assembly today:
After several years of work and debate, Pennsylvania stands close to passage of meaningful updates to the decades-old Oil & Gas Act. On behalf of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), we are writing to urge you to quickly reconcile and pass thesecritical protection provisions before the end of the year.
PEC Response to S.B. 1100 (P.N. 1723) to Members of the Pennsylvania Senate
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) is pleased the Senate has committed to updating and improving the Oil & Gas Act, a decades-old law written before unconventional shale gas development was a reality in our state. Amendments are sorely needed to ensure that Pennsylvania has appropriate and adaptive standards in place to meet the myriad environmental issues associated with this already pervasive range of activities and infrastructure.
Joint Conservation Statement on Governor's Marcellus Shale Proposal
On Monday, Governor Corbett announced his plans to implement recommendations from the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission. While much depends on details that have yet to be released, the environmental organizations represented on the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission are encouraged that the Governor intends to move forward with many of the recommendations in the Commission’s final report that address environmental concerns.
PEC Responds to remarks by DCED Secretary Alan Walker
The Honorable Tom Corbett
Governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Dear Governor Corbett:
Joint Statement on Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission Report
Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission Members:
Matthew J. Ehrhart, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Anthony S. Bartolomeo, Pennsylvania Environmental Council
Ronald L. Ramsey, The Nature Conservancy
Cynthia Carrow, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Statement:
PEC Releases Conservation Lease Guide for Landowners
Property owners faced with a decision about leasing the mineral rights beneath their land for Marcellus Shale gas drilling have a new tool to help them understand their options and make more informed choices.
PEC Marcellus Shale Work
Please visit http://marcellus.pecpa.org/
PEC Announces New Marcellus Shale Website
Harrisburg, PA – A new web site aimed at organizing the avalanche of information on all things Marcellus Shale was announced today by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC).
PEC Submits Marcellus Shale Legislative Proposal
HARRISBURG, PA – Two major environmental organizations in Pennsylvania have joined forces in submitting a legislative proposal to the Corbett administration and state lawmakers that is designed to help ensure safe and responsible Marcellus Shale drilling and gas extraction in Pennsylvania.
PEC Named to Marcellus Shale Commission
Harrisburg, Pa. – Anthony S. Bartolomeo, the chairman of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, has been named to Governor Tom Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission.
The governor made the announcement as part of his 2011-12 budget address to the General Assembly in Harrisburg today. Bartolomeo is one of 30 individuals drawn from the environmental community, state and local government and the natural gas industry statewide. The commission will be led by Lt. Governor Jim Cawley.
Pennsylvania Needs A Comprehensive Marcellus Shale Strategy
Marcellus Shale continues to dominate the news due to a series of unfortunate events at well sites in western Pennsylvania, national questions regarding the safety of the hydraulic fracking process, and recent policy withdrawals made by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
PEC Testifies Before Senate Policy Committee
Ellen Ferretti, a Vice President with PEC, will testify before the Senate Majority Policy Committee today on local impacts of Marcellus Shale development. The focus of the testimony will be on the need for better information assessment, as well as enhanced opportunity for comprehensive site planning, in the development process. A copy of the testimony is available below.
The lure of Powdermill: Nature reserve vs. gas reserve
By Sean D. Hamill
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
November 6, 2010
Jane Netting Huff remembers well her father's search for the perfect nature reserve.
"He walked all over Western Pennsylvania looking for places," said Dr. Huff, 71, a Virginia Tech biology professor whose late father was Graham Netting, the former director of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History who sought to create a field station near Pittsburgh in 1948.
"He wanted a place where scientists from the Carnegie could do their research, a place that would be protected."
PEC Applauds Signing of State Land Moratorium; Urges Final Resolution on Severance Tax
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) today applauded Governor Rendell’s signing of an Executive Order prohibiting additional leasing of State Park or Forest land for oil and gas development.
Important State Budget Revenue Decisions Remain
Below is text of the mesage sent to members of the General Assembly as they consider the revenue component of the state budget.
June 30, 2010
PEC Statement on State Budget Negotiations
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council today joined the Pennsylvania Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Pennsylvania Office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR), and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) on the following statement.
PEC to Testify at Marcellus Shale Hearing
Update: PEC's Testimony is now available online.
HARRISBURG -- John Walliser, Vice President of Legal and Government Affairs, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, will testify at a hearing on water quality issues relating to the Marcellus Shale industry in Pennsylvania from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, May 14, at Penn State Fayette's Eberly Campus, Williams Building, Swimmer Hall, One University Drive, Uniontown.
PEC Calls for Halt on Additional State Forest Land Leasing
New Report on Benefits of Growing Greener II
The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, a joint committee of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, has issued a report on the Growing Greener II initiative. The report was conducted pursuant to a House Resolution (2009-17) introduced by Representative Kate Harper.
According to the Report, Growing Greener II has resulted in:
ACTION ALERT: Armstrong Trail needs your help.
This rail with trail right-of-way along the Allegheny River in Gilpin and Bethel Townships between Schenley and Ford City was "railbanked" and purchased by the Allegheny Valley Land Trust (AVLT), managers of the Armstrong Trail.
For over eight years, the AVLT has been in conversations with The Kiski-Junction Railroad about sale of 9 miles of the right-of-way for both freight and scenic service. This is a laudable economic development goal and proper under the federal Rails to Trails Act.
Marcellus Shale Policy Conference
Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Policy Conference
PEC Announces Marcellus Shale Policy Conference
Marcellus Shale Policy Conference
May 3 & 4, 2010
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
If you have a stake in the development of regulatory policy and decision-making pertaining to Marcellus shale gas production in Pennsylvania, then you should attend this important conference!
PEC Comments on Proposed Rulemaking
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council submitted the attached comments to the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board, concerning proposed revisions to 25 PA CODE Chapter 102.
Budget Dramatically Shifts Resources From Environmental Protection, Natural Resource Conservation
Cuts and diversions in the budget just adopted by the state have dramatically reduced spending for environmental and natural resource programs in Pennsylvania by $347 million in just one year according to Donald S. Welsh, President & CEO of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.
Fire Sale
One of the last unresolved issues is the proposal to lease a minimum of 96,000 acres of State Forest land for natural gas drilling, or however much it takes to yield $240 million. Although those numbers may change, the fact remains: this will overturn a century of careful forest management that earned Pennsylvania a sustainable forest certification.
Action Alert: Make Your Voice Heard on the State Budget
Heading into our fourth month without a budget, the alleged light at the end of the tunnel is proving itself to be on oncoming train for those who care about the environment.
Severe Budget Cuts Mean Erosion Of Our Right To A Clean Environment
Statement by Donald S. Welsh
President & CEO
The debate surrounding a natural gas severance tax has become the latest political football in budget battles in Harrisburg; one that sidesteps a much deeper and more serious issue: the more than $385 million in additional budget cuts for environmental programs now being discussed in the State Capitol.
Proposed Budget Framework Puts Pennsylvania’s Environment at Further Risk
Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) President and CEO Don Welsh today issued the following statement on the proposed budget framework agreement set forth by leadership from the General Assembly this morning.
"This budget proposal does nothing to address the critical funding shortfalls facing Pennsylvania's environment. In fact, it continues the theme of making millions of dollars of cuts and diversions from agency budgets that are already insufficient.
PEC and TNC Statement on House Budget Negotiations
Text of Letter from Don Welsh, President & CEO of PEC, and William Kunze, Pennsylvania State Director of The Nature Conservancy:
July 16, 2009
PEC and TNC Statement on House Budget Negotiations
Text of Letter from Don Welsh, President & CEO of PEC, and William Kunze, Pennsylvania State Director of The Nature Conservancy:
July 16, 2009
PEC Supports Forward-Looking Climate Legislation
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council today announced its support for House Bill 80 (Rep. Vitali, Delaware), with proposed Amendment A01746 (Rep. Ross, Chester), which will be considered by the House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee tomorrow morning.
A copy of PEC's letter of support can be found immediately below.
House Bill 80 and Amendment A01746 pursue two primary objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania:
Don’t be Penny Wise and Pound Foolish on Environmental Budget
Starting June 1, against the backdrop of stark economic conditions, the state budget negotiations begin in earnest in Harrisburg. Many thorny choices need to be made; not just about where budget cuts should occur, but also about where new, reasonable revenues can be secured.
Even before current budget difficulties, environmental programs have often found themselves in the crosshairs of being diverted to help balance the budget or pay for other programs.
Pennsylvania Environmental Council Announces New President & Chief Executive Officer
Pennsylvania Works! Campaign Launched
A coalition of environmental, conservation, preservation, housing, and research groups, along with both Democrat and Republican members of the General Assembly, today announced their proposals to build green communities and jobs in Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Works! Campaign. PEC is a founding member of the campaign.
PEC Urges Prompt Consideration of Stormwater Legislation
Senator Ted Erickson (Chester and Delaware Counties) has reintroduced planning and implementation legislation (Senate Bill 524) that provides local government greater resources to address stormwater impacts from existing and potential sources. Similar legislation is expected in the House from Representative Robert Freeman (Northampton) in the near future.
PEC Opposes Diversion from Oil & Gas Fund
Included below is the text of a joint letter submitted to members of the Pennsylvania Senate.
PEC Joins Call on Environmental Funding
Coalition Calls for Reinvestment in Pennsylvania's Natural Resources
PEC and Center for Climate Strategies Announce Creation of "Center for Climate Strategies, Inc."
Contact:
For the Center for Climate Strategies:
Thomas Peterson, Chair (703) 691-3064
For the Pennsylvania Environmental Council:
Paul King, Chair and Interim President (412) 481-9400
PEC Supports Pennsylvania Clean Water Ballot Initiative
The referendum asks voters if they support allocating $400 million to help communities throughout the Commonwealth fund necessary upgrades to wastewater and drinking water facilities.
The Problem
Help is needed for many of Pennsylvania's 2,200 drinking water systems and 1,060 wastewater systems in order to meet federal and state environmental requirements, ensure clean drinking water, and clean up pollution discharges into our rivers and streams.
Historic Great Lakes Protection Compact Approved by Congress
John Walliser
Vice President, Government & Legal Affairs
(412) 481-9400 office
(724) 719-0069 mobile
jwalliser@pecpa.org
For Immediate Release
HISTORIC GREAT LAKES PROTECTION COMPACT APPROVED BY CONGRESS