Vitali calls for action against gas industry lobbyists
State Rep. Greg Vitali, D-166 of Haverford, wants Pennsylvania residents to call their legislators before Aug. 21 to urge them to not let lobbyists from the gas and oil industry influence environmental protections.
His concern stems from the amount spend on lobbying, as well as the number of lobbyists he sees in Harrisburg, that he said results in legislative changes that could harm the environment or state residents.
“The fact is that those 43 gas companies that we’ve identified have spent over $65 million over the past 10 years lobbying and you see it,” Vitali said. “You see the undue influence they have – influence that puts public health and the environment at risk.” Among Vitali’s concerns were two provisions passed by the state Senate last week.
One would allow gas drillers and other applicants to gain permit approval from third parties, instead of the state Department of Environmental Protection.
“The Department of Environmental Protection, they’re neutral. They work for the people,” Vitali said. “(This is) going to result in permits being issued that should not be issued that will put the environment and the public at risk.”
The second change would establish a politically appointed seven-member advisory committee that would make decisions regarding air quality permits for unconventional gas well sites.
He asked whether legislators who had received funds from the gas industry would appoint individuals who are sympathetic to the environment.
In addition, Vitali said the advisory committee was a way to undermine the methane reduction strategy.
Vitali pointed to the words of former Republican DEP Secretary David Hess in that these two measures would “emasculate the ability of the Department of Environmental Protection to regulate pollution under any of its programs.”
Having been passed by the Senate, the measures will return to the House for consideration.
He also said the absence of a severance tax in Pennsylvania was a direct result of the money this industry spends on the Pennsylvania Legislature.
And while various industries have lobbyists in Harrisburg from unions to trial lawyers, Vitali said what sets the gas and oil industry apart is the volume of lobbyists he sees in the state capital and the amount of money they spend.
Referring to a report he released in February entitled, “Marcellus Money and the Pennsylvania Legislature,” he said the number of gas and oil lobbyists, comparatively, is large.
“One thing we show is that for those 43 gas companies, there were 203 lobbyists employed by them,” Vitali said, adding he sees it himself at environmental committee meetings. “You just see them lining the back of the room.”
The report also looked at what the industry spends.
Since 2007, the gas industry has spent more than $65 million lobbying Pennsylvania government, Vitali said.
Last year, that figure was $7.3 million and through the second quarter of this year, the industry has spent more than $2.7 million, according to the representative.
In the second quarter alone, $1.3 million was spent on state elected officials and more than $35,000 in gifts were distributed to unnamed recipients.
Vitali said Fort Worth, Texas-based Range Resources
spent the most in Pennsylvania lobbying for the quarter with an expense of $166,420.
Representatives for Range
Resources did not respond to a request for comment.
Vitali urged the public to call the governor and their
state representatives and senators before Aug. 21, when it is anticipated they will return to Harrisburg.