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SUSTAINABILITY FROM MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE SCOTT E. COBURN GENERAL COUNSEL, PENNSYLVANIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS September 27, 2013 – Widener University School of Law 1
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Municipal Concerns 2 Addressing local impacts from Marcellus Shale operations Managing impact fee funds for long-term benefits Maintaining reasonable degree of control over Marcellus Shale operations
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Local Impacts 3 Roads/Infrastructure Significantly increased road use Overweight/oversized vehicles Posting and bonding Excess maintenance agreements Cost concerns Traffic/engineering studies Long-term maintenance
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Local Impacts 4 Public services EMS Need for Marcellus Shale-related training 911 and radio systems Police New or expanded forces? Increased operating costs CDL drivers Other skilled employees
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Local Impacts 5 Environmental Incidents Noise/odors, etc. - 24/7 operations Constitutional mandate to provide for public health, safety and welfare of citizens
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Local Control 6 Short-/Long-Term Municipal Development Rapid industry growth vs. Comprehensive plans Zoning considerations Compatible uses Preservation of community character Desire for local/regional economic growth
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Local Control 7 Act 13 of 2012 Replaces “where vs. how” model previously used by Pennsylvania courts Limits municipal control over the “where” of “oil and gas operations”
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Act 13 8 Section 3304’s permitted uses (subject to requirements on setbacks, noise, etc.): Wells – all zoning districts Impoundments – all zoning districts Compressor stations – industrial and agricultural districts; conditional use elsewhere Processing plants – industrial; conditional in agricultural
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Act 13 9 No limits on hours of operations for: Compressor stations/Processing plants Drilling of wells Construction and disassembly of drilling rigs
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Act 13 10 Uniform rules for: Construction activities Height, screens, fencing, lighting, noise for permanent structures Overweight vehicles
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Act 13 11 Robinson Township v. Commonwealth Clash of competing interests Efficient development of oil and gas Promotion of land uses through zoning/environmental concerns Whose authority trumps? Commonwealth? Municipalities?
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Act 13 12 Commonwealth Court Ruling Violates due process rights Landowners’ rights vs. public interest Zoning – view through community as a whole Requires incompatible uses Majority view – “pig in the parlor” Dissent’s rebuttal
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What’s Next? 13 Waiting on Supreme Court’s decision If affirms – back to “where vs. how” If overturns – Act 13 is the future? Still issues to work out between industry and municipalities Wells, impoundments, etc. Support operations – storage yards, transfer stations Environmental issues Pipelines – colocation? Seismic testing
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