04/22/24 - 117 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/9bh4zbtr
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Fish And Boat Commission Says Marcellus Shale Drilling Major Challenge
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Brian Barner, Acting Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission, this week presented the agency's annual report to the House Game and Fisheries Committee.
Barner highlighted Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling as a major challenge for the agency in protecting aquatic resources. He noted not only is there a threat to water pollution from drilling, there is also the opportunity to introduce invasive species of plants and animals like zebra mussels and golden algae into more areas of Pennsylvania.
"Unlike DEP, we cannot raise permit fees to fund and bring on additional staff to deal with the many issues surrounding its development," said Barner. "With the rapid increase in well drilling activity and without additional funding, the Commission is severely limited in its ability to work with DEP and the natural gas developers. As a result, we will miss opportunities to proactively work with DEP and the drilling community to minimize and avoid impacts to aquatic resources.
"The Commission supports the enactment of a severance tax (on natural gas production) that allocates funding for natural resource conservation. We think dedicating a portion of a severance tax to enhance conservation will be a wise investment for the Commonwealth as we meet energy demands while conserving aquatic resources."
The Commission again proposed a system of modest annual increases in its license fees and a dedicated $1 fee on each license to be use only for water access and habitat acquisition and restoration.
In response to the proposal, Majority Committee Chair Ed Staback (D-Lackawanna) said the Fish and Boat Commission just got a license increase in 2005 and it would go against the policy of the General Assembly to give the Commission a second increase before the Game Commission is granted a license increase.
Rep. Staback noted the Game Commission has not received a license increase for 11 years.
Rep. Ron Miller (R-York) serves as Minority Chair. A copy of the annual report is available online.
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2/19/2010 |
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