Natural Gas Drilling Bill Awaits Governor Corbett's Signature
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa (CBS) - A controversial bill to impose regulations and impact fees on natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania is on its way to becoming law. A state House vote yesterday sent the bill to the governor's desk.
Governor Tom Corbett is on board with the bill and during an appearance Wednesday with WPHT's Dom Giordano, the governor said it will protect the people of Pennsylvania.
"It addresses the environment. It makes us of the strongest environmental laws in the nation when it comes to the natural gas."
But opponents of the measure have a wildly different view. Democrat Bud George, during House debate, said the bill will "invite an environmental disaster. A catastrophe that seemingly it will take to put the legislature on track for adequate legislation."
Opponents of the measure also contend it does not raise enough money from the gas drilling industry and weakens the ability of local governments to control it. The governor says even he doesn't like all the provisions but says it was time to get something done.
