04/15/24 - 66 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/msuwtctm
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Senate OKs Transfer Of $174 Million Natural Gas Leasing Revenue To General Fund
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In line with the request by Gov. Rendell, the Senate this week voted 33 to 17 to approve legislation-- Senate Bill 490 (MJ White-R-Venango)-- which transfers $174 million in natural gas leasing revenue from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to the General Fund to help fill a budget gap for this fiscal year (2008-09).
The Senate first amended the bill to remove a $5 million allocation to the Department of Environmental Protection to support oil and gas permitting activities and added a $1 million allocation for county conservation districts, through DEP, to reimburse them for costs related to oil and gas permitting.
The amendment also provided $3.5 million to DEP to implement a nutrient credit trading program, $1 million to DCNR for administration of the Natural Heritage Program and for processing online reviews of applications under the PA Natural Diversity Inventory, $500,000 for the Fish and Boat Commission for environmental reviews of permits under the PNDI program and $500,000 to the Game Commission for permit reviews under PNDI.
“The Governor’s plan for balancing the budget is predicated on transferring $174 million to the General Fund. This legislation accomplishes that,” said Sen. Mary Jo White , who chairs the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. “It does so while leaving more than enough money to fund Pennsylvania’s environmental programs. Fiscally challenging times like this demand that state government do all it can to maximize existing resources and spare taxpayers of an increased burden.”
In a email to all Senators, the PA Association of Conservation Districts expressed support for the Senate amendment to the bill saying--
"The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) endorsed that amendment and thank Senator White for recognizing the importance of conservation district activities and the fiscal constraints they face. We were pleased that the amendment was passed by the Appropriations Committee and is now incorporated into the legislation.
"You should be aware that late last week DEP released a memo to conservation districts which seems to transfer some of the responsibilities conservation districts have over issuing permits for oil and gas well activities. This memo may negate the good intent of Senator White's original amendment to Senate Bill 490, recognizing the obvious need for financial support for conservation districts. (PA Environment Digest 3/23/09)
"While we are still in the process of determining the implications of the memo, it seems clear DEP is changing some of the associated permitting review and process functions. Specifically, DEP's Regional Office Oil and Gas Program staff will review, process and provide authorizations for Chapter 102 and 105 permits, including the erosion and sediment control general permit for earth disturbance activities associated with oil and gas exploration, production, processing, treatment operations or transmission facilities permit (ESCGP-l) for activities associated with Marcellus Shale gas exploration, production, processing, or treatment operations effective March 18, 2009.
"PACD was unaware of this memo until it was released late last week. We are still reviewing the memo with our members to qualify its meaning. As a result we have not yet responded to DEP concerning this matter. We are looking forward to working with the PA Senate as we struggle to mesh the meaning of the DEP memo and the intent of Senator White's amendment to Senate Bill 490."
The roll call vote on final passage in the Senate is available online.
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3/27/2009 |
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