More than 200 people attended a contentious debate this week between representatives of the natural gas industry, who argued Pennsylvania does not need a severance tax and maintained their activities will not harm water supplies, and environmentalists who called for a moratorium on drilling in the state's Marcellus Shale region until studies are done.

Speakers at the meeting, which was organized by state Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware, also included state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Acting Secretary John Quigley and state Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Secretary for Water Protection John Hines.

"We should not lease another inch of state forest for natural gas drilling," Rep. Vitali said. "We should do everything we can to protect our water from natural gas drilling."

Rep. Vitali plans to introduce legislation that would put a moratorium on the state leasing additional forest land for drilling.

He also said imposing a severance tax on the industry is a "no brainer."

Pennsylvania Land Trust Association Executive Director Andy Loza wants a state moratorium until the impact of drilling on wildlife, water, recreation, tourism and the health of state forests is fully understood.

"The impact hasn’t yet been studied so we don’t know what’s going to happen," Loza said. "There is a clearing and grating of five acres per well pad."

But East Resources Director of External Affairs Scott Rhoads said a moratorium is unnecessary because the state already has a comprehensive regulatory system in place. He also argued against a severance tax.

"It is too early to contemplate a severance tax because we don’t know how productive the wells will be," Rhoads said.

Montgomery County Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Joe Hoeffel said the state needs tougher regulations to make sure water and public lands are not jeopardized. He also called for the state to enact an extraction tax.

"An extraction tax is vital for Pennsylvania to preserve our natural areas, clean up rivers and streams, as well as to finance advance energy projects around the state," Hoeffel said. "The safety of our water and the integrity of our state forest lands must not be compromised."

Acting Secretary Quigley and Hines said the state should move cautiously.

"We need to think about the economy of the state, but not at any cost," Hines said.

Rep. Vitali said the size of the crowd reflected the strong interest about the issue in the area. "This is an emerging issue that will have continuing importance over the next decade," he said.

1/25/2010