PRINTER'S NO. 395
No. 37 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY HERSHEY, BARD, RUBLEY, BUNT, GEORGE, DALEY,
BALDWIN, CREIGHTON, HERMAN, HORSEY, R. MILLER, PAYNE, SAYLOR,
SCHRODER, SEMMEL, TANGRETTI, THOMAS, WRIGHT, YOUNGBLOOD AND
ZUG, FEBRUARY 24, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, FEBRUARY 24, 2003
A RESOLUTION
1 Encouraging development of the Trenton-Black River natural gas
2 seam; and encouraging preparation of environmental impact
3 statements and related public disclosures.
4 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania continues to be
5 overly dependent on foreign sources of energy necessary to meet
6 its domestic consumption demand; and
7 WHEREAS, There is a need for clean energy sources to minimize
8 air pollution and the fouling of our pristine rivers and address
9 other environmental concerns; and
10 WHEREAS, This Commonwealth possesses an abundance of
11 indigenous natural resources capable of meeting the demands of
12 the residential, industrial, commercial and transportation
13 sectors; and
14 WHEREAS, The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, have
15 resulted in greater emphasis on energy independence as a nation
16 and as a Commonwealth; and
17 WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has a long and storied history of
1 successful domestic exploration of indigenous energy sources;
2 and
3 WHEREAS, A portion of the historically productive Trenton-
4 Black River natural gas seam lies within this Commonwealth's
5 boundaries; and
6 WHEREAS, Exploration of the Trenton-Black River natural gas
7 seam has the potential to greatly enhance our natural gas supply
8 and meet the increasing demand for natural gas as a source of
9 clean energy; and
10 WHEREAS, The final report of the Task Force on 21st Century
11 Energy Policy accurately documents the importance of efficient
12 use of our energy resources and increased use of renewable
13 energy sources and resources indigenous to this Commonwealth;
14 therefore be it
15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives support and
16 encourage economically and environmentally sound development of
17 the Trenton-Black River natural gas seam on private and public
18 lands throughout this Commonwealth; and be it further
19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage any
20 agency of State Government that intends to enter into a contract
21 for the lease of oil and gas rights on public lands to first
22 publish a description of the public lands in the Pennsylvania
23 Bulletin and prepare an environmental impact statement at least
24 90 days before any lease contract is signed or the lease is
25 subjected to auction; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage the
27 agency to inform and cooperate with the Department of
28 Conservation and Natural Resources, the Department of
29 Environmental Protection and any relevant advisory boards in the
30 preparation of an environmental impact statement that examines
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1 the exploration, production and transmission of oil or gas and
2 the adequacy of access roads on the public lands; and be it
3 further
4 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage the
5 agency to make the environmental impact statement available for
6 review by the public and provide an opportunity for public
7 comment or response prior to the lease contract being signed or
8 the auction being held.
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