Marcellus Shale
Promoting environmentally responsible job creation and energy independence.

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The Marcellus Shale is the largest known shale deposit in the world and lies under much of the Appalachian basin from upstate New York, as far south as Virginia, and as far west as Ohio. Recoverable reserves of this domestic, clean-burning energy are estimated to be at least 84 trillion cubic feet.

Studies indicate that development could create more than 175,000 jobs and generate nearly $12 billion in state and local revenue by 2020. Environmentally responsible development of this vast resource will aid American energy independence and spur significant job creation.

News

• Senate Approves Baker Bill on Wellsite Safety 1/18/12
• Senate Approves Legislation to Provide Drilling Impact Fees; Bill Increases Environmental Safeguards, Addresses Zoning Issues 11/15/11
• Senate Approves Resource Extraction Options on State Land 10/26/11
• Scarnati Responds to Governor Corbett's Shale Proposal 10/3/11
• Baker's Wellsite Safety Bill Passes Senate 6/28/11
• White: Committee Approves Marcellus Shale Impact Fee 6/14/11
• Yaw's Oil and Gas 'Invoice Itemization' Bill Passes Senate 6/6/11
• Local Impact Fee Would Help Protect Communities Where Drilling Takes Place 5/26/11
• Senate Committee Approves Baker Bill on Wellsite Safety 5/25/11
• Scarnati Introduces Local Impact Fee Bill on Marcellus Shale Companies 5/16/11
• Gov. Corbett Signs White Bill on Spacing Gas Wells and Coal Seams into Law 5/13/11
• Scarnati Bill Would Allow Small Businesses to Pay Their School Taxes in Installments 5/11/11
• White Bill on Spacing Gas Wells and Coal Seams Heads to Governor for Enactment 4/27/11
• Senate Approves Baker Bill to Improve Pipeline Safety 4/6/11
• MEDIA ALERT: Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee will hold a public hearing on gas pipeline safety 3/14/11
• Senate Approves White Bill on Spacing Gas Wells and Coal Seams
• Senator Mary Jo White Applauds Governor Corbett's Repeal of Rendell Policy 2/23/11
• Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Approves Five Bills 2/14/11
• Committee Approves Baker Bill to Improve Pipeline Safety 2/14/11
• Senate Majority Policy Committee Examines Local Impacts of Marcellus Shale Drilling 1/27/11

Legislation

House Bill 1950 imposes an impact fee on gas drillers, strengthens environmental safeguards, and regulates the Marcellus Shale industry in Pennsylvania. Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson)

Act 9 of 2012 requires Marcellus Shale well operators to post signs bearing their GPS coordinates and other emergency response information at all well sites and share those coordinates with appropriate state and local officials. Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne)

Act 2 of 2011 establishes adequate and safe spacing between natural gas well clusters and workable coal seams. Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chair Mary Jo White (R-Venango)

Senate Bill 325 creates a statewide registry for Class 1 Marcellus Shale pipelines and requires operators to report the location and aggregate miles of the pipeline to the Public Utility Commission, which is given authority to conduct safety inspections and investigations. Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne)

Senate Bill 460 requires natural gas producing companies to list production detail and all deductions on royalty check stubs. Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming)

Senate Bill 367 provides new options for the leasing of state-owned real property for mining or removal of valuable coal, oil, natural gas, coal bed methane, limestone and mineral resources. Sen. Don White (R-Indiana)

Hearings

Senate Majority Policy Committee - Local Impacts of Marcellus Shale Drilling

Budget Hearings Covering Marcellus Shale:

Department of Environmental Protection
Department of Conservation & Natural Resources