Ferlo seeks review of new Marcellus Shale permit rules
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State Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park, is calling for the Pennsylvania Inspector General and the state Senate to investigate new state Department of Environmental Protection rules that require pre-approval by Harrisburg officials before permitting and enforcement actions can be taken against Marcellus Shale drilling operations.
Mr. Ferlo said today that the new procedures to centralize decision-making with political appointees heading the DEP will "have a chilling effect on enforcement," and he urged quick action by the senate's environmental oversight committee.
"This is creating a climate of concern for DEP staff and the public, and I am strongly urging quick, bipartisan oversight of this action," Mr. Ferlo said in a phone interview. "I also will ask the Inspector General to review the memos and the statutory regulations that are in place to govern inspections and violations."
The changes, which require that DEP Secretary Michael Krancer and two other DEP officials sign off on hundreds of department actions involving Marcellus Shale drilling operations, were detailed in internal emails to the DEP regional directors on March 23 by John Hines, DEP executive deputy secretary.
The new rules extend to routine matters such as notices of violations that previously were issued by inspectors and their regional directors, and they put political appointees in direct control of permit issuance and enforcement actions on Marcellus Shale related matters but not in any other permitting or enforcement areas.
Katy Gresh, a DEP spokeswoman, Wednesday characterized the changes as designed to make enforcement actions more consistent.
First Published March 31, 2011 10:36 am
