pennsylvania senate & house vote for preemption of municipal zoning to favor gas drilling and operations

Organizations decry lack of concern for communities, health, and property

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Senate on Tuesday passed legislation that would authorize a tax on the shale gas industry and set uniform standards for development, changes that critics said would leave many municipalities with little control over the use of their land.

Approval in the House was expected on Wednesday.

this week legislators in Harrisburg passed a bill that  undermines the rights of local municpalities to protect their communities from fracking.

Hold them accountable!

State lawmakers passed legislation this week to restrict or eliminate local zoning control over gas drilling - and the Governor has said he will sign it into law. Our local officials are the ones who have always decided where gas drilling can occur. They have made common sense decisions like keeping drilling away from our kids’ schools, or out of residential neighborhoods. That won't be the case once the Governor signs HB 1950.

Take Action today! Tell your state lawmakers they're wrong to take control of Marcellus Drilling from our cities and towns!  Find their contact information here and give them a call today!

(AP)  HARRISBURG, Pa. — Natural gas-drilling opponents at a raucous protest rally Tuesday warned Pennsylvania state lawmakers returning from their holiday break that pending bills to regulate the industry would pre-empt local efforts to control the activity.

About 150 people, including members of environmentalist groups and citizen activists, waved placards bearing messages such as "Kill the Bill" and "Our Towns, Our Voice," and cheered speakers who attacked two competing bills to strengthen regulation of the fast-growing industry and impose an impact fee.

rally in harrisburg!

The Pennsylvania Legislature is returning from their winter recess on January 17th. As you may recall, they ended 2011 with an attempt to pass legislation (SB 1100 & HB 1950) that would take away all municipalities’ zoning power regarding natural gas operations and give it over to the state. The ability to control zoning is what allows residents and municipal leaders to determine what is best for their communities. Many towns may want to say no to fracking near schools or playgrounds – HB 1950 would hijack that decision from our towns and cities.

HB 1950 must be defeated in order to protect towns from fracking. We are going to Harrisburg to welcome back our state legislators on their first day of work this year and stop this state power grab! Come on out!

Stand with Clean Water and Penn's Woods!

it takes a broad movement

The Barrasso/Heller Amendment to the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2354) is bad news.  It would  permanently bar the Army Corps of Engineers from restoring longstanding Clean Water Act protections to water bodies throughout the country.  This undermines the common-sense protections that Americans expect to ensure clean water for drinking, swimming and fishing. We have to stop it - and we will. 

barrasso-heller: the amendment that would put all water at risk

• Tell the Senate: It's past time to protect all water!
• A Broad Movement: Letters to Key Senators
• The New York Times on Barrasso - Heller
• Putting our water at risk
• Read the amendment

Wetlands and streams are a vital part of our water system. They feed into and clean rivers and lakes throughout the country.  The Mississippi and Colorado rivers, San Francisco and Chesapeake Bays and every other body of water relies on small streams and wetlands across the United States. Wetlands also provide vital flood protection for cities, towns, and farmland - an acre of wetland can hold nearly 1 million gallons of floodwaters.

fighting for water on the hill

The Clean Water Act brought Lake Erie back to life, cleaned up rivers like the Cuyahoga and the Potamac, and made drinking water safe for nearly all Americans - we're not done yet.  It's been 39 years since the Congress first passed the Clean Water Act. We were making steady progess until nine years ago.

Help us stop the Senate from passing the dirty water amendment today!