What a short, strange trip it's been: Moving forward after five years of marcellus shale development

University of Pittsburgh Law Review

Volumn 72, Issue 4, 2011, Pages 615-660

  Pifer, Ross H ^a  

^a PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 84858264888     PISSN: 00419915     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.5195/LAWREVIEW.2011.167     Document Type: Review

References (164)

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11. Natural gas from the Marcellus Shale Formation began to be extracted from a Washington County, Pennsylvania, well in 2005.
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19. JOHN N. BOUCHER, HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA 550 (1906).
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21. Editorial, Value of Natural Gas, Its Use Clarifies the Atmosphere at Pittsburg, N.Y. TIMES, Oct. 17, 1885, at 6.
22. See Public Hearing on Local Impacts of Marcellus Shale Drilling Before Senate Majority Policy Comm., 191st Sess. (Pa. Jan. 26, 2011) (statement of David E. Callahan, Vice President of the Marcellus Shale Coalition), available at http://senatorerickson.com/policy/2011/012611/callahan.pdf.
23. See John A. Harper, The Marcellus Shale-An Old "New " Gas Reservoir in Pennsylvania, 38 PA. GEOLOGY, Spring 2008, at 6.
24. United States Energy Information Administration, Natural Gas Gross Withdrawals and Production, available at http://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/ng-prod-sum- a-EPGO-FGW-mmcf-a.htm.In2005.
25. The permit for the drilling of Renz #1 was issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on April 18,2003. Facility Search, PENNSYLVANIA'S ENVIRONMENT ALFACILITY APPLICATION COMPLIANCE TRACKING SYSTEM, http://www.ahs2.dep.state.pa.us/eFACTSWeb/criteria-facility.aspx
26. Operator, PA. DEPT. OF ENVTL. PROT., https://www.paoilandgasreporting. state.pa.us/publicreports/Modules/Production/ProductionByOperator.aspx.
27. JEFF HAYDEN & DAVE PURSEIX, PICKERING ENERGY PARTNERS, INC., THE B ARNETT SHALE: VISITORS GUIDE TO THE HOTTEST GAS PLAY IN THE US 11 (Oct. 2005).
28. See Carl T. Montgomery & Michael B. Smith, Hydraulic Fracturing: History of an Enduring Technology, J. PETROLEUM TECH., Dec. 2010, at 26, 27.
29. J. DANIEL ARTHUR ET AL., ALL CONSULTING, AN OVERVIEW OF MODERN SHALE GAS DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES 6 (2008).
30. Elizabeth Dotson, Comment, Drilling a Hole in the Water Supply: Regulation of Injection Wells in Texas, 10 TEX. TECH ADMIN. L.J. 267,274 (Fall 2008).
31. NAT'L ENERGY TECH. LAB., U.S. DEP'T OF ENERGY, MODERN SHALE GAS DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES: A PRIMER 16-24 (2009).
32. Bureau of Oil and Gas Management, Year to Date Workload Report, available at http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputote/minres/oilgas/ 2009%20Year%20End%20Report-WEBSrTE.pdf
33. Compare Bureau of Oil and Gas Management, Year to Date Workload Report, http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/ 2009%20Year%20End%20Report-WEBSITE.pdf
34. Bureau of Oil and Gas Management, 2009 Wells Drilled by County, http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/ 2009%20Wells%20Drilled%20by%20County.htm
35. Bureau of Oil and Gas Management, 2009 Wells Drilled by Operator, http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/ 2009%20WelIs%20Drilled%20by%20Operator.htm.
36. Bureau of Oil and Gas Management, Marcellus Active Operators Oil & Gas Operators List, http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/new- forms/marcellus/Reports/MarcellusActiveOperators.htm.
37. Amy Keth & Amy Kaylor, Marcellus Shale Development in Pennsylvania 16 (2010), available at http://web.clarion.edu/SBDC/Forms/2010-06- 21MarcellusFacts.pdf.
38. Terry Engelder & Gary G. Lash, Marcellus Shale Play's Vast Resource Potential Creating Stir in Appalachia, AM. OIL & GAS REP., Mar. 2008, at 76, 87., available at http://www.fwbog.com/index.php?page=article&article=144.
39. Will Brackett, Marcellus Shale Well Production Analysis, Powell Barnett Shale Newsletter, 17 (2010), available at http://www.bametehalOTews.corn/ documents/2010/Marcellus%20Production%20Data%20Oct%202010.pdf.
40. Ross Schweitzer & H. Ilkin Bilgesu, Economics of Marcellus Shale Well and Fracture Design Completions, WORLD OIL, Mar. 2010, at D-87.
41. See ROBERT A. VARGO & KENNETH L. FRYE JR., THE CENTER FOR RURAL PENNSYLVANIA, AN EXAMINATION OF PENNSYLVANIA'S OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY 12 (2005) available at http://www.rural.palegislature.us/Oil-Gas-Industry.pdf.
42. Press Release, Chesapeake Energy Corp., Chesapeake Energy Corporation Announces Closing of Marcellus Shale Joint Venture with StatoilHydro (Nov. 25, 2008), available at http://www.chk.com/News/Articles/Pages/1229883.aspx.
43. Press Release, Exxon Mobil Corp., Exxon Mobil Corporation and XTO Energy Inc. Announce Agreement (Dec. 14, 2009), available at http://www.exxonmobil.com/ Corporate/Files/news-release-20091214.pdf.
44. Press Release, Mitsui & Co. Ltd., Participation in the Shale Gas Projects in Pennsylvania (Feb. 16, 2010), available at http://www.mitsui.co.jp/ en/release/2010/1190155-3894.html.
45. Press Release, Reliance Indus. Ltd., Reliance Industries Announces Closing of Marcellus Shale Joint Venture with Atlas Energy (Apr. 23, 2010), available at http://www.ril.com/downloads/pdf/PR23042010.pdf.
46. Press Release, BG Group, BG Group Announces U.S. Appalachian Basin Joint Venture with EXCO (May 10, 2010), available at http://www.bg-group.com/ MediaCentre/PressArchive/2010/Pages/l0May2010.aspx.
47. Press Release, Royal Dutch Shell, Royal Dutch Shell PLC Acquires New Positions in U.S. Tight Gas (May 28, 2010), available at http://www.shell.com/ home/content/media/news-and-media-releases/2010/shell-acquires-new-positions-us- tight-gas-28052010.html.
48. Press Release, Chevron Corp., Chevron Announces Agreement to Acquire Atlas Energy (Nov. 9, 2010), available at http://www.chevron.com/chevron/ pressreleases/article/11092010-chevronannouncesagreementtoacquireatlasenergy. news.
49. Cliff White, Natural Gas is Buried Treasure, CENTRE DAILY TIMES, Feb. 11, 2011, available at http://www.centredaily.com/2011/02/10/2512357/natural-gas- is-buried-treasure.html.
50. Public Hearing on Marcellus Shale Before House of Representatives Environmental Resources and Energy Comm., (Pa. Apr. 15, 2009) (statement of Ross H. Pifer), available at http://law.psu.edu/-file/aglaw/Public-Hearing-on- Marcellus-Shale-Legal-Issues-Impacting-Landowners-April-l 5-2009.pdf.
51. Kermit L. Rader, Protecting Clients from Going Bust in the Gas Boom, PA. LAWYER, July/Aug. 2010, at 30,35.
52. Ross H. Pifer, Drake Meets Marcellus: A Review ofPennsylvania Case Law upon the Sesquicentennial of the United States Oil and Gas Industry, 6 TEX. J. OIL, GAS & ENERGY L.
53. Tom Zeller Jr., Governor Bans New Gas Wells on State Land, N.Y. TIMES, Oct. 26,2010, http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/permsylvania-governor- bans-fracking-in-state-forests/?scp=lb&sq=&st=nyt.
54. Krista Weidner, Natural Gas Exploration: A Landowner's Guide to Leasing Land in Pennsylvania, PENN STATE COOP. EXTENSION, 4-5 (2008), http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/ua448.pdf.
55. Peter Applebome, Gas Drillers in Race for Hearts and Land, N. Y. TIMES, June 29,2008, at A23.
56. Clifford Krauss, There's Gas in Those Hills, N.Y. TIMES, Apr. 8,2008, at CI.
57. James Loewenstein, Local Gas Rush in Bradford County, TOWANDA DAILY REV., Oct. 3, 2008.
58. Extension Works for the Landowner, PENN ST. COOP. EXTENSION, http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/success-stories/extension-works-for-the- landowner.
59. Company Rescinds Gas Lease Offers in Pa. and New York, TOWANDA DAILY REV., Oct. 3, 2008.
60. Eric Hrin, Gas-lease Agreement is "Very Good Deal," TOWWAND DAILY REV., Sept. 14,2009.
61. James Loewenstein, Chesapeake to Hold Lease-Signing Event in Wysox Township, TOWANDA DAILY REV., Mar. 17,2010.
62. Kathy Mellott, Delayed Boom: Local Shale Drilling Activity Lags-For Wow, JOHNSTOWN TRIB. DEM., Dec. 12, 2010.
63. Mireya Navarro, At Odds Over Land, Money and Gas, N.Y. TIMES, Nov. 28, 2009, at A14.
64. 58 PA. STAT. ANN. §33 (West 2010).
65. Kilmer v. Elexco Land Servs., Inc., 990 A.2d 1147, 1158 (Pa. 2010).
66. See Valentino v. Range Res.-Appalachia, LLC, No. 09-1615, 2010 WL 2034550 (W.D. Pa. May 21,2010) (denying motion to dismiss);
67. Hollingsworth v. Range Res.-Appalachia, LLC, No. 3:09-CV-838, 2009 WL 3601586 (M.D. Pa. Oct. 28, 2009)
68. Lyco Better Homes, Inc. v. Range Res.-Appalachia, LLC, No. 4:09-CV-00249,2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 110425 (M.D. Pa. May 21, 2009).
69. Public Hearing on Clean and Green: PA Farmland and Forest Land Assessment Act of 1974 Before House of Rep. Agric. & Rural Affairs Comm., 2008 Leg., Reg. Sess. 17 (2008) (statement of Hon. Dennis Wolff, Pa. Sec. of Agric).
70. H.R. 208, 2009 Leg., Reg. Sess. (2009);
71. H.R. 984,2009 Leg., Reg. Sess. (2009);
72. H.R. 1394, 2009 Leg., Reg. Sess. (2009);
73. S. 298, 2009 Leg., Reg. Sess. (2010) (enacted).
74. S. 298,2009 Leg., Reg. Sess. (2010) (enacted).
75. Belden & Blake Corp. v. Pa. Dep't of Conservation and Natural Res., 969 A.2d 528 (Pa. 2009).
76. Robert E. Beck, Current Water Issues in Oil and Gas Development and Production: Will Water Control What Energy We Have?, 49 WASHBURN L.J. 423 (2010).
77. Ross H. Pifer, The Impact of Drilling on Surface Owner Rights, Pa. Bar Inst. 2nd Annual Oil & Gas Law Colloquium 101-102 (Jan. 25, 2010).
78. See CHARLES W. ABDALLA & JOY R. DROHAN, PENN STATE COOP. EXTENSION, MARCELLUS EDUCATION FACT SHEET: WATER WITHDRAWALS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MARCELLUS SHALE GAS IN PENNSYLVANIA 3 (2010).
79. R. TIMOTHY WESTON, K&L GATES, DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARCELLUS SHALE-WATER RESOURCE CHALLENGES 1.
80. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., DEP Orders Partial Shutdown of Two Natural Gas Drilling Operations in Lycoming County (May 30,2008).
81. Press Release, Susquehanna River Basin Comra'n, SRBC Notifies 23 Companies that Water Used for Developing Natural Gas Wells in Susquehanna Basin Needs Approval (June 6, 2008).
82. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., Natural Gas Industry Expected to Abide by State Environmental Laws, Regulations (June 6,2008).
83. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., Natural Gas Exploration Will Not Come at Natural Resources' Expense, Says DEP Secretary McGinty (June 13,2008).
84. Form 5500-PM-OG0083, Application Addendum for Marcellus Shale Gas Well Development, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot. (Rev. 8/2008).
85. 58 PA. STAT. ANN. § 601.201(d) (West 1996).
86. 39 Pa. Bull. 1982 (Apr. 18, 2009).
87. Pa. Bull. 6235 (Oct. 24, 2009).
88. 39 Pa. Bull. 1982 (Apr. 18, 2009).
89. 25 PA. CODE § 78.53 (2006);
90. Michele RODGERS ET AL., PENN STATE COOP. EXTENSION, MARCELLUS SHALE: WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS NEED TO KNOW 12-13 (2009)
91. DEP Delegated Programs for County Conservation Districts, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., http://files.dep.state.pa. usAVaterAVatershed%20ManagementAVatershedPortalFiles/CCD%20Niche/CCDDelegation. pdf.
92. Memorandum from Dana Aunks, Acting Deputy Secretary, Water Management, Pa. Dep't Envtl. Prot., to DEP Regional Directors and County Conservation Districts (Mar. 18,2009)
93. See Press Release, Delaware Riverkeeper, DEP Rollback of Clean Water Protection (Mar. 31, 2009).
94. The Pennsylvania State University, FAQs, Wastewater, PENN STATE MARCELLUS CENTER FOR OUTREACH AND RESEARCH (MCOR), available at http://www.marcellus.psu. edU/resources/faq.php# (2010).
95. R. Marcus Cady II, Comment, Drilling Into the Issues: A Critical Analysis of Urban Drilling's Legal, Environmental, and Regulatory Implications, 16 TEX. WESLEY AN L. REV. 127,142 (Jan. 2010).
96. Spencer Hunt, Gas Wells 'Leftovers May Wash into Ohio, COLUMBUS DISPATCH, Jan. 11,2010.
97. DANIEL J. SOEDER & WILLIAM M. KAPPEL, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WATER RESOURCES AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION FROM THE MARCELLUS SHALE 5 (May 2009).
98. Elizabeth Gibson, Chesapeake Bay, Marcellus Shale Environmental Issues Could Collide at Hearing at Capitol, HARRISBURG PATRIOT NEWS, Jan. 26,2011.
99. See Matt Blauch et al., Technique Reuses Frac Water in Shale, Am. Oil & Gas Rep. Sept. 2009.
100. 40 Pa. Bull. 4835 (Aug. 21,2010).
101. Ian Urbina, Regulation Lax as Gas Wells' Tainted Water Hits Rivers, N.Y. TIMES, Feb. 26, 2011.
102. Abrahm Lustgarten, Water Problems from Drilling are More Frequent that PA Officials Said, PROPUBLICA, July 31, 2009, available at http://www.propublica. org/article/water-problems-fromdrilling-are-more-frequent-than-officials-said- 731.
103. Fiorentino v. Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., 09-CV-2284, 2010 WL 4595524 (M.D. Pa. Nov. 15, 2010).
104. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot, DEP Reaches Agreement with Cabot to Prevent Gas Migration, Restore Water Supplies in Dimock Township (Nov. 4, 2009), available at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/ search-articles/14292.DEPlaternegotiatedasettlementwhereby.
105. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., Dimock Residents to Share $4.1 Million, Receive Gas Mitigation Systems Under DEP-Negotiated Settlement with Cabot Oil and Gas (Dec. 16, 2010), available at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/search-articles/14292.
106. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., DEP Investigating Source of Stray Methane Gas in Bradford County (Sept. 7,2000)
107. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., DEP Assesses Penalty for 2007 Gas Migration that Forced Evacuations in Erie County.
108. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot, DEP to Drilling Companies: Gas Migration Events are Preventable with Proper Well Construction and Oversight (May 13,2010).
109. 41 Pa. Bull. 805 (Feb. 5, 2011).
110. BUREAU OF AIR QUALITY, PA. DEP'T OF ENVTL PROT, SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MARCELLUS SHALE SHORT-TERM AMBIENT AIR SAMPLING REPORT 1 (2010), www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/./Marcellus-SW-l1-01-10.pdf.
111. DEP hired thirty-seven employees and opened a Williamsport office in 2009. DEP hired sixtyeight employees and opened a Scranton office in 2010. PA. DEP'T OF ENVTL. PROT., MARCELLUS SHALE: TOUGH REGULATIONS, GREATER ENFORCEMENT (2010), http://wbcitizensvoice.com/pdfs/CV03DEPRELEASE.pdf.
112. The Pennsylvania Land Trust summarized DEP data regarding violations from January 1,2008, through August 20, 2010.
113. Talisman Energy USA, Inc., with 104 violations at 181 wells. Conserveland.org, Marcellus Shale Drillers in Pennsylvania Amass 1614 Violations since 2008, PA. LAND TRUST ASS'N, Oct. 1,2010, http://conserveland.org/ violationsrpt.
114. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., DEP Reaches Agreement with Cabot to Prevent Gas Migration, Restore Water Supplies in Dimock Township (Nov. 4,2009).
115. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., Independent Report Faults Clearfield County Gas Well Operators for June 3 Blowout: DEP Outlines Proper Procedures for All Marcellus Drilling Firms (July 13, 2010), http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id= 12818 &typeid=1.
116. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., DEP Fines Atlas Resources for Drilling Wastewater Spill in Washington County (Aug. 17, 2010).
117. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., DEP Investigating Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Well Control Incident in Tioga County (Jan. 25,2011).
118. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., DEP Fines Stallion Oilfield Services $6, 500 for Illegally Transferring Fracking Water in Lycoming County (Apr. 23, 2010).
119. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., DEP Fines Seneca Resources Corp. $40,000 for Violations at Marcellus Operation in Tioga County (Oct. 7,2010).
120. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Environmental Protection, DEP Fines Energy Inc. $3,500 for Well Drilling Violations in Bradford County (Feb. 1, 2010).
121. Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., Cattle from Tioga County Farm Quarantined After Coming in Contact with Natural Gas Drilling Wastewater (July 1,2010)
122. See Press Release, Pa. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., Three-Quarters of Drilling Wastewater Haulers Cited, 207 Trucks Placed Out of Service During Latest State Police, DEP "Operation FRACNET" (Nov. 9, 2010).
123. The Susquehanna River Basin Compact, which created the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, was signed into law on December 24, 1970. See Susquehanna River Basin Compact, Pub. L. 91 -575,84 Stat. 1509 (1970)., http://www.srbc.net/ about/srbc-compact.pdf.
124. The Delaware River Basin Compact, which created the Delaware River Basin Commission, was signed into law on November 2, 1961. Delaware River Basin Compact, Pub. L. No. 87-328, 75 Stat. 688 (1961)., http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/ regs/compa.pdf.
125. Review and Approval of Projects, 75 Fed. Reg. 60,617,60,618 (Oct. 1,2010)
126. This change was implemented pursuant to a Notice of Determination issued on August 14,2008. Susquehanna River Basin Comm'n, Notice of Determination for Natural Gas Well Development (Aug. 14, 2008). This Notice was followed by a Final Rule incorporating the change. Review and Approval of Projects, 73 Fed. Reg. 78,618 (Dec. 23,2008).
127. Review and Approval of Projects, 73 Fed. Reg. at 78,618 (2008).
128. Review and Approval of Projects, 74 Fed. Reg. at 49,809,49,811-12 (Sept. 29, 2009).
129. Release, Delaware River Basin Comm'n, DRBC Notifies Company that Water Used for Developing Natural Gas Wells in Delaware River Basin Needs Approval (June 9,2008).
130. Press Release, Delaware River Basin Comm'n, DRBC Approves Stone Energy Water Withdrawal (July 15,2010).
131. Release, Delaware River Basin Coram'n, DRBC Will Review Natural Gas Well Pad Projects after Adoption of New Regulations (May 6,2010).
132. Proposed Amendments to the Water Quality Regulations, Water Code and Comprehensive Plan to Provide for Regulation of Natural Gas Developmental Projects, 76 Fed. Reg. 295 (Jan. 4,2011).
133. Press Release, Delaware River Basin Comm'n, DRBC Extends Comment Period on Draft Natural Development Gas [sic] Regulations (Mar. 2,2011).
134. Editorial, The Halliburton Loophole, N. Y. TIMES, Nov. 3,2009, at A28.
135. H.R. 2766, 111th Cong. (2009). S. 1215, 111th Cong. (2009).
136. Robert Jochen, Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act: S. 1215 and H.R. 2766 (Jan. 25, 2010), available at http://law.psu.edu/-file/aglaw/Natural-Gas/National-Gas-Legislation-FRAC-Act. pdf.
137. E.g. Mike Soraghan, Oil and Gas Group Urges Oscar Judges to Steer Clear of'Gasland,' N.Y. TIMES, Feb. 1, 2011, available at http://www.nytimes.com/ gwire/2011/02/01/01greenwire-ioil-and-gasgroup-urges-oscar-judges-to-steer- 99256.html.
138. Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of a Public Meeting of the Science Advisory Board; Environmental Engineering Committee Augmented for the Evaluation and Comment on EPA's Proposed Research Approach for Studying the Potential Relationships Between Hydraulic Fracturing and Drinking Water Resources, 75 Fed. Reg. 13,125 (Mar. 18, 2010).
139. Informational Public Meetings for Hydraulic Fracturing Research Study, 75 Fed. Reg. 35,023 (June 21, 2010).
140. OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEV., U.S. ENVTL. PROT. AGENCY, DRAFT PLAN TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING ON DRINKING WATER RESOURCES (2011).
141. DAVE MESSERSMITH, PENN STATE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, MARCELLUS EDUCATION FACT SHEET: NEGOTIATING PIPELINE RIGHTS-OF-WAY IN PENNSYLVANIA (2010).
142. Recommended Decision at 95, Application of Laser Northeast Gathering Company, LLC, for Approval to Begin to Offer, Render, Furnish, or Supply Natural Gas Gathering and Transporting or Conveying Service by Pipeline to the Public in Certain Townships of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, No. A-2010-2153371 (Pa. Public Util. Comm'n Nov. 22, 2010).
143. See H.R. 473,2009-2010 Reg. Sess. (Pa. 2009).
144. See H.R. 2213,2009-2010 Reg. Sess. (Pa. 2010).
145. See H.R. 2694, 2009-2010 Reg. Sess. (Pa. 2010).
146. See S. 1452, 2009-2010 Reg. Sess. (Pa. 2010).
147. See H.R. 808,2009-2010 Reg. Sess. (Pa. 2009).
148. S. 297, 2009-2010 Reg. Sess. (Pa. 2009) (enacted).
149. 58 PA. STAT. ANN. § 601.212(a) (West 1996).
150. BUREAU OF FORESTRY, PA. DEP'T OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES, OIL & GAS POSITION STATEMENT (Apr. 1, 2008), available at http://www.dcnr.state. pa.us/forestry/0&G/Oil-Gas-position.pdf.
151. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Exec. Order No. 2010-05, Leasing of State Forest Land and State Park Land for Oil and Gas Development (Oct. 26,2010).
152. 71 PA. STAT. ANN. § 1340.302(aX6) (Supp. 2010).
153. Bureau of Forestry, Notice to Bidders January 12,2010 Oil and Gas Lease Sale (Nov. 9,2009)., http-J/www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/gasleasebidders.aspx. In the prior DCNR lease sale on September 3,2008.
154. Tom Barnes, Gov. Rendell Pushes for Shale Gas Tax, PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE., Aug. 28,2010
155. Tom Barnes, Rendell Halts Natural Gas Drilling, PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, Oct. 27, 2010.
156. MICHAEL WOOD & SHARON WARD, PA. BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER, RESPONSIBLE GROWTH: PROTECTING THE PUBLIC INTEREST WITH A NATURAL GAS SEVERANCE TAX (Apr. 2009), available at http://www.pennbpc.org/sites/pennbpc.org/files/ Responsible%20Growth%20-%20PA%20Severance%20Tax.pdf.
157. C.J. Marshall, GOP Lt. Gov. Candidate: No Severance Taxfor Marcellus Shale, Tow AND A DAILY REV., Sept. 4, 2010.
158. Editorial, Stale of Unrest: The Republicans Take Charge in Pennsylvania, PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, NOV. 4,2010.
159. See Laura Legere, "Forced Pooling " Legislation for Gas Industry Planned in Pennsylvania, SCRANTON TIMES TRIB., July 11, 2010.
160. ROBERT M. JOCHEN, THE AGRICULTURAL LAW RESOURCE & REFERENCE CENTER, OIL AND GAS INTERSTATE CONSERVATION COMPACT: 58 PA. STAT. §§ 191-196 (Aug. 2009).
161. Memorandum from Sen. Gene Yaw, Co-Sponsorship-Company to Company Pooling, Dec. 17, 2010, available at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CSM/2011/0/ 5967.pdf.
162. Ordinance Supplementing the Pittsburgh Code, Title Six, Conduct, Article I Regulated Rights and Actions (2010).
163. Press Release, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Pennsylvania Environmental Council Releases Major Report on Marcellus Shale Drilling (July 13, 2010), available at http://www.pecpa.org/sites/pecpa.org/files/downloads/ Developing-the-Marcellus-Shale-0.pdf.
164. Press Release, Clean Water Action, Marcellus Concerns Dominate Environmental Activism Award (Sept. 24,2010), available at http://www. cleanwateraction.Org/print/1751.