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Sen. Camera Bartolotta: PA Should Be Producing 4 Times The Gas We Are Now, Exporting It Around The World: ‘We Just Need To Get Government The Hell Out Of The Way’

On June 25, Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington) told a Natural Gas and Oil Day event at the Capitol in Harrisburg Pennsylvania should be producing four times the natural gas we are now and exporting it around the world-- “We just need to get government the Hell out of the way!!”

Sen. Bartolotta serves as one of four co-chairs of the Gas and Oil Caucus, along with Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh) and Reps. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland) and Ed Neilson (D-Philadelphia).

Also speaking at the event were gas and oil legislators Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Sen. Bartolotta’s remarks are a good example of what 100% supporters of the gas and oil industry in Pennsylvania do and don’t say and do and don’t see about the industry that fails to give the public the whole story about the impacts of the industry they support.

In this regard, this industry is no different than other industries that have had a significant economic impact on the state and a negative impact on Pennsylvania’s public health and the environment, until the public had enough. Read more here.

Here is what Sen. Bartolotta said--

“I got a lot of words here, but you know what? [waiving papers with her written remarks] I typically just roll off the cuff because this topic has been a passion of mine since long before I was elected in 2014.

“Pennsylvania, not only could, but should produce four times the amount of natural gas we can produce right now, four times.

“We should be exporting freedom from Pennsylvania all around the world right now.

“We have the capability, we have the will, we have the knowledge, we just need to get government the hell out of the way.

“That's what we have to do.

“Stephanie [Catarino Wissman, executive director for American Petroleum Institute Pennsylvania] alluded to the amount of natural gas that we've been able to produce in Pennsylvania, the amount of money that has come to Pennsylvania because of this incredible resource right under our feet.

“I live in southwestern Pennsylvania. I represent the cornerstone of the keystone state in the arms of West Virginia and man, am I tired of seeing all of our workers, all of our industry get out of Pennsylvania and go to where it's easier to do business.

“We need to make sure we are business friendly. We are industry friendly. We have to spread the word.

“I have told the gas industry for a decade now, "You're not spreading the message, you're not blowing your own horn, folks. You got to teach people what it is you do and how you change lives."

“There was a report recently that came out that said that over 100,000 jobs come from the gas and oil industry in Pennsylvania.

“That's a lot of people working, and it's not just family sustaining jobs. These are community sustaining jobs.

“These are jobs that have an average salary of $97,000 a year. Did you know that? Why aren't we hearing that every day?

“What I like to tell people who rail against the gas and oil industry, who happen to drive to a protest, use a cell phone, and by the way, have clothes on.

“You are using the fossil fuel industry right now. Everything you see, you touch, you utilize that makes your life better, came from underground folks.

“It came from an industry of hardworking people with great minds and technology, who bring to us civilization, medication, freedom, heat, cold, you name it, it's all there.

“And these wonderful displays behind you, I'm so glad they're here. I had this group come out to my local school district, my gosh, probably five years ago I think, and they put it up on the stage in the auditorium and they brought all class after class after class.

“And they could barely pry the kids away because it's so interesting, it's so hands-on. But what was better in between all those classes and at lunch, the teachers were up there on this stage looking at all of this. It was great.

“They don't know what all is involved in this incredible industry, but the impact fee alone has brought $26.4 million worth of grants to my district alone, $26.4 million. That combined with leveraging against your tax base has changed the lives of tens of thousands of people.

“To finalize here, we have got to make sure that regulation does not get in the way of progress, of prosperity and of freedom.

“And that's exactly what this industry offers and that's what we as legislators need to do to be sure that it provides not just jobs, but bringing in other industries into Pennsylvania.

“We need to see industry tripping over themselves to come into Pennsylvania, use this efficient, clean, readily available energy source to put up AI centers, data centers, hospitals, warehouses.

“You name it, we got it and we need to use it. Thanks.”

Click Here for a video of the event.

Resource Links - Oil & Gas Legislative/Regulatory Issues:

-- Gas Industry, Sen. Bartolotta Seek Legislation To Eliminate Environmental Hearing Board Appeals Of DEP Permits For Natural Gas Pipeline Facilities [5.21.24]

-- 3 Days That Shook Washington County: Natural Gas Plant Explosion; Pipeline Leak Of 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Gas; 10,000 Gallon Spill At Compressor Station [6.20.23]

-- KDKA: Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline Crashes Into, Thru Westmoreland County Home And A Loophole In State Law That Doesn’t Regulate Gathering Pipelines For Safety [9.5.23]

-- Sen. Yaw To Introduce Bill To Punish Counties That Seek To Protect Their Residents From Impacts Of Natural Gas Thru Lawsuits [5.8.24]

-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Calls Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’ [10.30.23]

-- Senate Republicans Pass Bill Authorizing An Authority To Take Over Permitting Large-Scale Energy Projects; Eliminating Public Comment; Waiving Any Regulation; Providing Immunity From Prosecution; Barbers Reviewing Permits? [5.1.24]

-- PA House Republicans Announce Energy Package, Including An Energy Advocate Within DEP To Veto Any Action That Would Impact PA’s Energy Portfolio And An Independent Energy Office With The Same Power [3.28.24]

-- Bill Reported Out Of Senate Committee Would Allow Pipelines Like Mariner East To Apply For Waivers Of Any PUC Regulation, Law Or Policy [5.3.24]

-- PUC: Act 13 Drilling Impact Fee Revenue Drops $100 Million From Last Year’s Record To $179.6 Million; Puts Hole In State, Local Budgets [6.18.24]

-- PA Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition Doubles-Down On Support For Exporting PA Natural Gas To China, Our Economic, Military Competitor [4.18.24]

-- Stars and Stripes Guest Essay: Pause On Permits For New LNG Gas Export Facilities Right Move For National Security - Rivals Like China Are Using US LNG To Build Influence - By Steve Anderson, US Army Brigadier General - Retired [3.8.24]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: ‘Selling Oil And Natural Gas To China?’ ‘It Simply Should Not Happen, Period’ [3.6.24]

-- US Senators Introduce Bill To Ban US LNG Gas Sales To Any Entity Under The Control Of Communist China To Protect US Jobs; Americans From Price Spikes; EQT Says We Have A ‘Duty’ To Provide LNG Gas To China; Where Do AMERICAN Interests Lie? [3.5.24]

-- Pennsylvania’s Electric Grid Is Dependent On One Fuel To Generate 59% Of Our Electricity; Market Moving To Renewables + Storage [3.18.24]

-- PJM, Electric Grid Operators Recommend Additional Steps To Overcome Vulnerabilities In Natural Gas Infrastructure To Ensure More Reliable Grid Operation [2.22.24]

-- House Committee Told Governor’s Energy Plan Diversifies Energy Generation, Avoids One-Fuel Dependence, Improves Grid Reliability, Lowers Consumer Costs, Generates Jobs; Or Upends Competitive Markets And Is A ‘Death Wish’ For Our Economy [6.24.24]

-- IRRC Approves Final Revised PUC Regulations Strengthening Rules For Intrastate Hazardous Liquids Pipelines; Gas Pipelines Fined Over $71 Million, Have Worst Compliance Record Of Any Industry, Including Criminal Charges [6.21.24]

-- DEP Imposed $2.2 Million In Penalties Against Shale Gas Drilling, Pipeline Companies In 2023 For Violations Dating Back To 2018 [5.14.24]

-- DEP: Shale Gas Drilling Resulted In 54 Incidents Of New Wells Interfering With Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells, Water Wells Or Other Shale Gas Wells [3.20.24]

-- DEP Imposed $422,365 In Penalties On 14 Conventional Oil & Gas Well Operators In 2023 For Abandoning Wells, Spills, Venting Gas; 93 Operators Cited For Abandoning 271 Wells [3.6.24]

-- DEP Declares 101 Medina Res Dev Co. LLC Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned, Not Plugged In Crawford, Erie Counties On March 5 [3.7.24]

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - June 8 to 14 - Abandoned Conventional Well Violations Now Top 512, Equaling All Of 2023 [6.15.24]

-- DEP: 89% Of Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners Did Not Comply With Well Integrity Reporting For 34,455 Wells In 2023 [3.27.24]

-- DEP: 86% Of Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners Did Not Comply With Waste Disposal, Production Reporting For 33,505 Wells In 2023 [3.29.24]

-- House Committee Reports Out Bills To Ban Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater; Prohibit Use Of PFAS 'Forever Chemicals’ In Consumer Products [6.11.24]

-- House Hearing: Shapiro Administration Supports Bill Banning Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater, Prohibiting Its Use As Coproduct Under Residual Waste Regulations [6.10.24]

-- House Hearing: Penn State Expert Says ‘Pennsylvania Should Ban Road Spreading Of Oil & Gas Wastewater;’ Contaminants Exceed Health, Environmental Standards [6.10.24]

-- House Hearing: Penn State Center For Dirt & Gravel Road Studies Says Road Spreading Oil & Gas Wastewater Is Not An Effective Dust Suppressant, Does Not Meet Environmental Testing Standards [6.10.24]

-- PUC To Hold July 15 Prehearing Conference On Future Of Venango Water Company, Related Companies As Follow-Up To Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill In Venango County [6.18.24]

-- Penn State Research Traced Radioactive Radium In Freshwater Mussels To Oil & Gas Wastewater [6.1.24]

-- DEP Issues $1.1 Million Civil Penalty To Equitrans For Violations Related To The Uncontrolled Venting Of 1.1 Billion Cubic Feet Of Gas From The Rager Mountain Gas Storage Area In Cambria County [4.9.24]

-- Washington County Family Lawsuit Alleges Shale Gas Company Violated The Terms Of Their Lease By Endangering Their Health, Contaminating Their Water Supply And Not Protecting Their Land [PaEN]

-- Oil & Gas Industry Impacts: Navy Veterans Patrick & Helen Robinson Relate Their 7-Year Struggle Dealing With Impacts Of Mariner East Pipeline Construction In Indiana County, And They Continue [PaEN]

-- Oil & Gas Industry Impacts: Cambria County Family Sues Sunoco After 3 Years Of Dealing With Damage To Home, Well, Septic System, Property From Mariner East Pipeline Construction [PaEN]

-- Spotlight PA: Little Information Made Public About Free Water Testing Ordered As Part Of Mariner East Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Settlement To Criminal Charges By Attorney General [4.4.24]

-- Republican Rep. Krupa Introduces HB 1656 To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells To Protect The Public From Radioactive, Toxic Materials [9.5.23]

Related Articles - Oil & Gas Industry Health/Environmental Impacts:

-- Gov. Shapiro: We Need Stronger Laws To Deal With The ‘Corporate Greed’ That Let Oil & Gas Operators Get Away With Abandoning Wells For Far Too Long [PaEN]

-- Feature: 60 Years Of Fracking, 20 Years Of Shale Gas: Pennsylvania’s Oil & Gas Industrial Infrastructure Is Hiding In Plain Sight [PaEN]

-- Conventional Oil & Natural Gas Drilling: An Industrial Machine Moving Across The PA Countryside Leaving Behind Big Liabilities & Spreading Pollution Everywhere It Goes [PaEN]

-- 3 Days That Shook Washington County: Natural Gas Plant Explosion; Pipeline Leak Of 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Gas; 10,000 Gallon Spill At Compressor Station [PaEN]

-- Citizen Complaint, Company Report Results In DEP Inspection Finding 63,000 Gallon Wastewater Spill At Seneca Resources Shale Gas Well On State Game Lands In Elk County; More Leaks, Spills [PaEN]

-- EQT Shale Gas Wastewater Truck Rolls Over Spilling More Than 4,600 Gallons Of Wastewater In Lycoming County [PaEN]

-- Equitrans Determined Leak Of Over 1.1 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas From Cambria County Storage Facility Was Caused By Corrosion In Conventional Gas Well Casing [PaEN]

-- Ohio/PA Train Derailment, Pipeline Explosions, Uncontrolled Releases Put Spotlight On Public Health, Safety Threats Posed By Petrochemical, Natural Gas Industrial And Pipeline Infrastructure In PA [PaEN]

-- 9th Compendium Of Studies On Health & Environmental Harms From Natural Gas Development Released - ‘The Rapidly Expanding Body Of Evidence Compiled Here Is Massive, Troubling And Cries Out For Decisive Action’ [PaEN]

-- University Of Pittsburgh School Of Public Health Studies Find Shale Gas Wells Can Make Asthma Worse; Children Have An Increased Chance Of Developing Lymphoma Cancer; Slightly Lower Birth Weights [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: Body Of Evidence Is 'Large, Growing,’ ‘Consistent’ And 'Compelling' That Shale Gas Development Is Having A Negative Impact On Public Health; PA Must Act [PaEN]

-- State Dept. Of Health Apologizes For Not Listening To Communities Suffering Health Impacts From Shale Gas Development; New Health Study Results ‘Just The Tip Of The Iceberg’ [PaEN]

-- State Dept. Of Health Invites Citizens To File Environmental Health Complaints Related To Natural Gas Development; Health Will Also Review Environmental Test Results [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project Finds Results ‘Very Concerning’ From University Of Pittsburgh Studies Showing Links Between Natural Gas Development And Lymphoma Cancer, Worsening Asthma Conditions, Lower Birth Weights [PaEN]

-- Between The Lines Podcast: Pediatrician Dr. Ned Ketyer Explains The Results Of New Studies Of The Health Impacts Of Natural Gas Development On Children And Adults [PaEN]

-- New University Of Chicago Medical Study Connects Natural Gas Development In PA To Real, Serious Human Health Outcomes In Comparison To New York State [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: PA’s Natural Gas Boom - What Went Wrong? Why Does It Matter? What Can We Do Better To Protect Public Health? [PaEN]

-- Presentations Now Available From Shale Gas & Public Health Conference In Nov. Hosted By PA League Of Women Voters & University Of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health [PaEN]

-- Yale School Of Public Health Study Found PA Children 2 To 3 Times More Likely To Be Diagnosed With Leukemia If They Live Near Unconventional Shale Gas Facilities [PaEN]

-- Study: Industry Data Shows Hazardous Air Pollutants Are ‘Ubiquitous’ In The Natural Gas Transmission System; More Justification For Robust Leak Prevention Programs [PaEN]

-- Penn State Study: Potential Pollution Caused By Road Dumping Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater Makes It Unsuitable For A Dust Suppressant, Washes Right Off The Road Into The Ditch [PaEN]

-- New Penn State Study: Brine Water Pumped From Played-Out Conventional Oil & Gas Wells And Used As Dust Suppressants, Winter Road Treatments Exceed Environmental, Health Standards, Just Like Conventional Oil & Gas Brine Water [PaEN]

-- DEP Report Finds: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers Routinely Abandon Wells; Fail To Report How Millions Of Gallons Of Waste Is Disposed; And Non-Compliance Is An ‘Acceptable Norm’ [PaEN]

-- Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners Failed To File Annual Production/Waste Generation Reports For 61,655 Wells; Attorney General Continues Investigation Of Road Dumping Wastewater [PaEN]

-- Public Source: ‘It’s Just Too Close:’ People Living Near Natural Gas Drilling, Industrial Facilities Suffer As State And Local Governments Fail To Buffer Homes

-- What It’s Like To Raise A Family In The Most Fracked County In PA - Washington County: PA Physicians For Social Responsibility [Video]

-- Environmental Health Project: Setback Distances And The Regulations We Need To Protect Public Health From Oil & Gas Facilities [PaEN]

-- Senators Santarsiero, Comitta To Introduce Bill Increasing Setback Safety Zones From Shale Natural Gas Drilling Sites From 500 To 2,500 Feet, Based On Latest Science [PaEN]

-- Inside Climate News: Gov. Shapiro Provides Fresh Support To Key Changes Recommended In 2020 Grand Jury Report To Tighten Regulation Of The Natural Gas Drilling Industry To Better Protect Public Health, Environment [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: How DEP Issues Permits For Shale Gas Facilities Without Considering Cumulative Impacts - How New Facilities Will Add To Existing Pollution Loads And Impact The Area [PaEN]

-- DEP: Widespread Presence Of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Fresh Water Leading Shale Gas Operators To Use Contaminated Water In Fracking Operations; DEP Doesn’t Require Routine PFAS Testing [PaEN]

-- DEP Issued 754 Notices Of Violation For Defective Oil & Gas Well Casing, Cementing, The Fundamental Protection Needed To Prevent Gas Migration, Groundwater & Air Contamination, Explosions [PaEN]

-- Creating New Brownfields: Oil & Gas Well Drillers Notified DEP They Are Cleaning Up Soil & Water Contaminated With Chemicals Harmful To Human Health, Aquatic Life At 272 Locations In PA [PaEN]

-- Center For Rural Pennsylvania: Rural Population To Shrink 5.8%; Fewer Young People, More Older People; Current Policies Failed To Sustain Communities, Ensure Long-Term Rural Resiliency [PaEN]

More Environmental & Health Impact Articles:

-- Click Here for more articles on oil and gas infrastructure impacts on health and the environment.

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - June 22 to 28 - 12 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Failure To Comply With Cleanup Order [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - June 29 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 81 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In June 29 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

Related Articles - Gas:

-- Sen. Camera Bartolotta: PA Should Be Producing 4 Times The Gas We Are Now, Exporting It Around The World: ‘We Just Need To Get Government The Hell Out Of The Way’ [PaEN]

-- PA Natural Gas Prices Follow International Market Prices Which Have Caused 40% to 60%+ Increases To PA Ratepayers, And Will Again. Diversification Of Energy Sources Is The Key To Prevent Spikes, Lower Prices Read more here.

-- Independent Fiscal Office Projects Another Drop In Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee Revenue In 2024 By As Much As $114 Million From 2022 [PaEN]

-- DEP: Reminder Of July 2 Virtual Hearing On PA General Energy Triple Shale Gas, Water Pipeline Proposal In Lycoming County

-- Legislative Budget & Finance Committee Report Finds DEP Issued Shale Gas Well Drilling Permits In Less Than 40 Days Required By Law Over Last 5 Years; By 2022 It Was Down To 21 Days [Page 63]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Revised Oil & Gas Erosion & Sediment Control General Permit (ESCGP-4) [PaEN]

-- DEP Reviewing Shell Petrochemical Plant Title V Air Quality Operating Permit Application For Administrative Completeness [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permits For Installation Of A 5.8 Million Gallon Gasoline/Naphtha Storage Tank At The United Refining Company Refinery In Warren, PA [PaEN]

-- Comments Invited By DEP On Renewal Of Air Quality Permit For American Refining Group Facility In Bradford, McKean County [PaEN]

-- DEP Soliciting Bids For Plugging 20 Conventional, Abandoned Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Wells Owned By Pennzoil In The Allegheny National Forest [PaEN]

-- Center For Coalfield Justice Hosts July 17 Meeting In Washington County On How To Protect Your Families' Health Living Near Shale Gas Facilities [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves Water Withdrawals, Including 7 More For Shale Gas Development In June; Total Of 15 In 2024 [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved, Renewed 33 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In May; 133 General Permits In 2024 [PaEN]

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