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PRINTER'S NO. 796
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
104
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY BARTOLOTTA, YAW, WHITE, VULAKOVICH, STEFANO,
HUTCHINSON, WAGNER, WARD, RESCHENTHALER, REGAN AND VOGEL,
MAY 4, 2017
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, MAY 4, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Governor to end the moratorium on new nonsurface
disturbance natural gas drilling leases involving
Commonwealth State forest land.
WHEREAS, The General Assembly has previously recognized the
safe and responsible expansion of regulated gas leasing and
drilling on public lands in this Commonwealth, including the
State forest system, as an appropriate method of energy
production as well as an appropriate nontax source of revenue;
and
WHEREAS, With the Commonwealth facing a budget deficit
exceeding $1 billion, the Senate seeks to pursue every
opportunity to create new revenue; and
WHEREAS, The potential revenue generated by reauthorizing the
Commonwealth to enter into natural gas leases has previously
been estimated to exceed $100 million; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
(DCNR) has administered State-regulated natural gas extraction
for seven decades; and
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WHEREAS, DCNR oversight of controlled mineral extraction in
this Commonwealth has included monitoring, evaluating and
reporting on the environmental impact that occurs before, during
and after drilling; and
WHEREAS, DCNR has stated that:
Approximately 1.5 million acres of the 2.2 million-acre
state forest land are underlain by Marcellus and other
shale gas formations, making it a key venue for
developing this important energy source in Pennsylvania;
and
WHEREAS, DCNR's authority to provide new nonsurface
disturbance natural gas leases should be restored and fully
utilized to realize much-needed State revenue before asking
taxpayers to pay higher taxes; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the Governor to end the
moratorium on new nonsurface disturbance natural gas drilling
leases involving Commonwealth State forest land; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the Office of the Governor.
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