(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.

The wide-ranging bills — one approved by the Senate and one by the House — involve one of the state's most politically polarized issues. They are expected to be referred to a conference committee soon in an attempt to settle numerous areas of disagreement.

At issue Tuesday was a provision in both bills that would declare gas drilling and most related activities "permitted uses" in all zoning districts on a statewide basis. Certain facilities would be limited to certain districts.

Drilling and water impoundments would have to be allowed as close as 300 feet from a home or school. But municipalities could enact ordinances to ensure that drilling companies satisfy the same zoning requirements that apply to other companies.

Local governments could seek a legal review by the state attorney general's office of proposed ordinances, and private parties could ask the attorney general to review local ordinances to determine whether they permit reasonable oil and gas development.

"This was a terrible idea in 2011. It remains a terrible idea in 2012," Steve Hvozdovich, of a group called Clean Water Action, said at the rally.

Hvozdovich said standardizing zoning for the natural-gas industry is likely to spur demands for similar treatment by other companies that must deal with often-conflicting zoning requirements of different municipalities.

"You set a dangerous precedent," he said.

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