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News Regional & State News Scarnati says forced pooling in Marcellus Shale a non-starter
Thursday, 21 July 2011 18:31

Scarnati says forced pooling in Marcellus Shale a non-starter

Written by  Mary Wilson

(Harrisburg) -- Later today, the governor’s Marcellus Shale commission will recommend forced pooling. But, the Senate President Pro Temp says that’s a non-starter. Republican Joe Scarnati says when he talks to people with property sitting atop Marcellus Shale, they say absolutely no pooling, which is the practice of drilling for natural gas under certain conditions without having the permission of the landowner. Governor Corbett's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission is recommending revisiting a 1961 law that allows pooling in certain geological formations, like the Utica Shale, but not the Marcellus. Scarnati says pooling could be an obstacle to passing other Marcellus-related policy. "That issue is one that I think can be deal breaker when we start talking about Marcellus shale so if the commission wants to recommend about pooling, I think they are adding the fatal flaw to getting this process done," he says. The commission is also recommending imposing an impact fee on natural gas drillers. Scarnati says he thinks that can pass the veto-test. He says passing a comprehensive package addressing the impact of drilling in the Marcellus Shale is one of his top priorities this fall, second only to redistricting.

Last modified on Friday, 22 July 2011 04:53

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