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        PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2403, 2425               PRINTER'S NO. 2455

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE RESOLUTION

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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