Monday, February 11, 2013
The potential deal could generate an estimated $500 million for the airport.
Former Moon resident Gary Sheffler said his civil engineering firm PVE Sheffler struggled in the years after U.S. Airways abandoned its hub and cut flights at Pittsburgh International—a move that triggered a downturn in the overall airport corridor economy. "To put a personal face on this, my company went from 15 employees down to three employees," said Sheffler, speaking before hundreds Thursday at a public hearing at Robert Morris University. The burgeoning natural gas drilling industry in Western Pennsylvania has helped his company grow to hire a staff of 70, he said. "I would have a hard time telling 70 people with families and kids, 'I think we have got to shut it down because of the environment,' " he said. Allegheny County …
Friday, September 21, 2012
The brief was filed this week.
Attorneys for the group of municipalities, medical doctor and nonprofit challenging the state’s new law governing Marcellus Shale play filed a brief with the state Supreme Court laying out its argument for why it should affirm a Commonwealth Court’s ruling that portions of Act 13 are unconstitutional. “Act 13’s promulgation of a uniform set of zoning regulations governing oil and gas operations throughout the commonwealth constitutes a single set of statewide zoning whiles which allow for incompatible uses in like zoning districts thereby eliminating the constitutional rationale for such districts,” the court paperwork reads. It continues: “Act 13’s broad brush approach and failure to account for the health, safety and welfare of citizens…
Monday, July 30, 2012
The application was filed Monday.
State officials on Monday asked the state Supreme Court for expedited consideration of an appeal of a Commonwealth Court decision last week that ruled portions of the state’s new Marcellus Shale law—known as Act 13—as unconstitutional. The court last week ruled that zoning regulations related to Marcellus Shale play should be made at the local level, and not the state level as Act 13 mandated. “That decision has gutted Act 13 of one of its key interstitial parts and has created significant uncertainty for the Commission, the Department, and the regulated community at this critical juncture in the Marcellus Shale development,” an attorney for the Public Utility Commission and the state Department of Environmental protection wrote in the …
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The state Commonwealth Court issued its opinion Thursday morning—calling those provisions unconstitutional.
The state Commonwealth Court on Thursday struck down portions of Pennsylvania’s newly enacted legislation governing Marcellus Shale operations—also known as Act 13—as unconstitutional. The 54-page opinion filed by President Judge Dan Pellegrini, stated: “Petitioners allege that they have close to 150 unconventional Marcellus Shale wells drilled within their borders, and Act 13 prevents them from fulfilling their constitutional and statutory obligations to protect the health, safety and welfare of their citizens, as well as public natural resources from the industrial activity of oil and gas drilling. Petitioners allege that Act 13 requires them to modify many of their zoning laws.” The petitioners, which included a cluster of local …
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC claims financial damages by not being able to build a natural-gas compression station.
Claiming irreparable financial damage, MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC is suing Cecil Township. The company late last week also petitioned Commonwealth Court for a preliminary injunction to pave the way for the construction of a natural-gas compression station on property off Coleman Road near Route 980. MarkWest’s action came after township officials sent the company a letter, dated June 15, denying a second application by the company to use the property for the facility. An application for a special exception was turned down in 2011, with the township zoning hearing board citing potential impact on neighboring properties and disagreeing with MarkWest’s claim of providing an “essential service.” Washington County Court of …
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
'Pre-existing ordinances must remain in effect until or unless challenged pursuant to Act 13 and are found to be invalid,' the order read.
A Commonwealth Court judge on Wednesday afternoon granted a preliminary injunction regarding the state's new Marcellus Shale law, known as Act 13. The order means that portions of the new law, which was slated to go into effect April 14, will be stayed for 120 days. The order reads: "While the ultimate determination on the constitutionality of Act 13 is not presently before the Court, the Court is of the view that municipalities must have an adequate opportunity to pass zoning laws that comply with Act 13 without the fear or risk that development of oil and gas operations under Act 13 will be inconsistent with later validly passed local zoning ordinances." It continues: "For that reason, pre-existing ordinances must remain in effect until …
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
A hearing has been set for next week.
A Commonwealth Court judge on Wednesday granted a request for an expedited hearing on a challenge to Act 13—the state's new Marcellus Shale law. Lawyers for a cluster of muncipalities, one organization and a medical doctor who have challenged the state's new Marcellus Shale regulations requested the expidited hearing Tuesday. The hearing will be held in Commonwealth Court at 10 a.m. April 11 to see if the judge will grant injunctive relief. Cecil Township solicitor John Smith, who is an attorney for the plaintiffs in the case, said the hope would be that the judge would grant an injunction, which would delay the implementation of Act 13 until the challenge could be heard in its entirety. Act 13 is set to go into effect April 14. Peters …
Friday, March 30, 2012
To read the entire complaint, click the link in the story.
A challenge to Act 13—the state’s new Marcellus Shale drilling law—has formally been challenged. Lawyers for municipalities including Peters Township, Cecil Township, Mt. Pleasant, Robinson Township, South Fayette, two communities in Bucks County, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and a medical doctor filed a complaint and request for injunctive relief in Commonwealth Court Thursday. Editor’s Note: The suit can be viewed right here.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
The board voted unanimously on Wednesday to challenge Act 13.
South Fayette commissioners on Wednesday unanimously voted to join other local municipalities in a challenge to the state’s new Marcellus Shale law, known as Act 13. Peters Township voted to join in the challenge Monday—and Cecil Township, Mt. Pleasant and Robinson Township have also signed on. Cecil Township Solicitor John Smith has said he believes that parts of the legislation are constitutionally challengeable. Peters Council plans to formally address the motion at Monday's meeting—7:30 p.m. in council chambers—because it's intended action was not given the necessary 24 hours. Have you followed us on Facebook and Twitter, and signed up for our daily newsletter?
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Peters Township Council is joining with other municipalities to appeal a new law that lifts local zoning regulations on Marcellus Shale.
The Observer-Reporter reported Monday night that Peters Township Council voted to join other municipalities in an appeal of state Act 13—a new law that lifts local zoning regulations on Marcellus Shale drilling. The appeal is expected to be filed this week, which basically asks for an injunction—the newspaper reported. Council voted, but hadn't provided the proper notice so it plans to formally address the motion at next Monday's meeting—7:30 p.m. in council chambers. Follow Peters Patch on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for our daily newsletter.
Jet Miskis
10:55 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
I believe that if we loose the legal challenge of ACT 13, if it is not amended concerning local land use authority our current Peters Township Ordinance, which includes a 40 acre overlay map (meaning, the 'spacing unit' required as a DEP permitted 'Marcellus Well' of 640 acres under the 1984 Oil & Gas Act, or a DEP permitted 'Conservation Well,'' spacing unit' of 640 feet, from the well head out … more ›