Amid all the media attention on shale gas drilling regulation at the state and federal levels, much of the real activity is happening at the local -- and sometimes hyperlocal -- level.
A great deal of media attention has been focused on the Marcellus Shale referendum debate in Pittsburgh. But in the meantime, township governments near the city are systematically and quietly taking steps to take address Marcellus-development related issues that affect their communities.
"No matter what their politics are, people find they have a vested interest in this," said Pittsburgh Councilman Doug Shields. From his point of view, "there is a lot more downside than upside."
Sometimes the disputes pitch local farmers who are or want to receive royalty checks from gas producers versus what Shields called "refugees from Pittsburgh" who want to protect the investment in their houses. "The community is split down the middle. It's like cattlemen versus sheep men," he said.
Shields is leading the drive to have a shale drilling ban made part of Pittsburgh's city charter. He said he also has been asked by Pittsburgh area township supervisors for advice on what they should do. Before they adopt any ordinances to regulate drilling, he urges them to ask a lot of questions. "I don't tell them what they should do. All I do say is here are something things for you to consider," he said.
Perry Township in Washington County, Upper Burrell Township in Westmoreland County and South Fayette Township in Allegheny County are among the communities he has advised and each has adopted new rules that apply just to their communities.
According to published accounts, Perry Township, which is about 36 miles south of Pittsburgh, passed an ordinance in earlier in August that includes restrictions on street routes, setbacks and the number of acres required for a company to enter into a lease agreement. Council adopted the new rules instead of conducting a referendum in November on whether gas drilling should be banned from the township.
Upper Burrell Township, 26 miles east Pittsburgh, adopted an ordinance in July that will permit shale drilling in parts of the township, news accounts said. Drilling will be permitted on farms, land owned by industries and land owned by the township or the city of New Kensington. Consol Energy has asked the state Department of Environmental Protection for permits to drill six wells at an industrial site.
South Fayette Township, which is 15 miles west of Pittsburgh, adopted new rules restricting natural gas compressor stations and processing plants to zones designated for light and heavy industry for drillers, published reports said. Township officials said they would consider adding further restrictions to the ordinance later this year.
Finally, one of the more interesting developments is in the city of Pittsburgh itself. Last week, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl declined to sign a bill that would have placed an anti-drilling referendum on the November ballot. That didn't end the battle, as it's unclear now whether Allegheny County election officials will still permit that referendum to go through.
Shields said after the pocket veto by the mayor that he had presented the issue to the division of elections and it was accepted. But whether it's going to be on the ballot still is up in the air.
Doug Shields is auditioning for his next job in his unpopular pursuit against the largest job creator in southwestern Pennsylvania. He was voted out of office in the primary and is now clearly seeking future employment with an anti drilling organization.
If anyone took Doug seriously, including his own former constituents, he wouldn't be in this position.
Retiring from one office to run for another is hardly "voted out of office." Shields happened to lose that primary, which was in a district that does not comprise the same area as that which we currently represents.
Also, if this pursuit was truly unpopular, his attempts at legislation would not be passing the City Council with near-unanimity.
In short, get your facts straight, Mr. Pitzarella.