Pa. Senate Passes Natural Gas Drilling Regulations

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - The state legislature continues to move closer to enacting a bill that would regulate natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania.

The state Senate Tuesday night passed its version of a bill that would regulate drilling in the Marcellus Shale natural gas region and would impose fees on companies to deal with the impacts of drilling.

"This bill provides a reasonable, balanced approach to the Marcellus Shale industry in Pennsylvania," says Joe Scarnati, the Senate bill's sponsor and top Republican in the Senate.

But Philadelphia Democrat Michael Stack complained in strong terms that the bill provides no revenue to areas with no drilling, "The majority and the governor are telling the rest of the state, mostly outside the west, to go to hell. We're telling Chester County, 'take a walk.' We're telling Philadelphia, 'kiss my you-know-what.'"

Meanwhile, the House on Tuesday debated amendments to its version of drilling legislation.

Reported by Harrisburg Bureau Chief Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio 1060