PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2403, 2425 PRINTER'S NO. 2455
No. 375 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, PILEGGI, RAFFERTY, C. WILLIAMS, WAUGH, TARTAGLIONE, STOUT, STACK, O'PAKE, MUSTO, MELLOW, LOGAN, LAVALLE, KITCHEN, KASUNIC, FONTANA, FOLMER, FERLO, ERICKSON, COSTA, BRUBAKER, BOSCOLA AND ARMSTRONG, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
AS AMENDED, SEPTEMBER 24, 2008
A RESOLUTION 1 Opposing certain Federal rules and procedures governing the 2 regulation of the interstate transportation of natural gas 3 and memorializing the Congress of the United States to repeal 4 or modify certain provisions of the Natural Gas Policy Act of <-- 5 1978 ACT OF 1938. <-- 6 WHEREAS, The Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA) of 1978 created <-- 7 AUTHORIZES the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to <-- 8 oversee the natural gas market; and 9 WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court has ruled that state 10 regulatory agencies, such as the Pennsylvania Public Utility 11 Commission, have no authority over interstate gas pipelines; and 12 WHEREAS, The NGPA also continued CONTINUES the authority of <-- 13 natural gas companies to acquire private and public property 14 through eminent domain; and 15 WHEREAS, These various Federal public policy decisions and 16 rulings have resulted in a proliferation of interstate natural 17 gas pipelines over which state and local governments have no 18 authority; and
1 WHEREAS, The FERC natural gas certification process does not 2 properly protect the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's natural 3 resources; and 4 WHEREAS, The FERC natural gas certification process also 5 fails to properly take into account the interests and values of 6 property owners; and 7 WHEREAS, Some property owners state that they were not 8 properly notified of a project in their neighborhood, and the 9 Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 ACT OF 1938 does not statutorily <-- 10 require that FERC hold a public hearing in the locality affected 11 by a proposed gas pipeline; therefore be it 12 RESOLVED, That the Senate of Pennsylvania recognize fully the 13 energy and environmental challenges facing the Commonwealth of 14 Pennsylvania in general and the United States in particular; and 15 be it further 16 RESOLVED, That the Senate believe that the demand for energy 17 continues to be a concern nationwide and that an effective 18 national energy policy must include increased emphasis on 19 conservation, renewable energy, demand-side management, as well 20 as increased production, and an emphasis on siting power 21 generation near demand; and be it further 22 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize that an effective energy 23 policy must be addressed nationally but should reflect 24 traditional State and local authority over environmental and 25 energy matters; and be it further 26 RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the members of the 27 Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation to support legislation to 28 amend section 7(e) of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 ACT OF <-- 29 1938 to require that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 30 hold a public hearing in localities prior to authorization if so 20080S0375R2455 - 2 -
1 requested; and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the members of the
3 Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation to further amend the
4 Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 ACT OF 1938 so as to preserve the <--
5 fundamental rights of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its
6 local governments and its citizens to determine the future of
7 land-use policies; and be it further
8 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
9 the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
10 member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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