Pennsylvania Senate Passes Marcellus Shale Bill

The Pennsylvania Senate has approved a Marcellus shale bill by a vote of 31-19.

The Post-Gazette reports that the bill includes a levy on shale.

“The Republican-negotiated measure melds the fee amounts in previous bill(s) into a tiered system pegged against the price of natural gas, which would raise between $190,000 and $355,000 per well over 15 years. That fee is projected to raise more than $190 million retroactively for 2011, rising to $333 million by 2015,” the newspaper reported.

The legislation puts in place a drilling impact fee but strips municipalities of the ability to control oil and gas drilling within their communities. 

State , R-37, of Moon, supported the measure, according to his Harrisburg office. 

The Moon Planning Commission has suspended  that would regulate Marcellus shale drilling in Moon, pending the result of state legislation. 

The measure now heads to the House for consideration.