State Rep. Greg Vitali criticized cuts to the Department of Environmental Protection while leaving revenue sources like a tax on natural-gas drilling on the table. “About 50,000 Marcellus Shale gas wells are planned for the next decade or two, and we need inspectors to make sure this industry operates safely and responsibly,” Vitali said in a release. “The industry has the potential to do a lot of good for the economy, but it also has the potential to do a lot of harm to our environment if not properly regulated and monitored.” Vitali was hoping his legislation to tax natural-gas drillers would be included in the budget, which he estimates could bring in about $200 million in the first year.
via SCHOOLS OF HARD KNOCKS: Lawmakers review cuts – delcotimes.com.
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