Oct 17, 2013 3 min read

Suppose I told you Pennsylvania planned to pass a law preventing PennDOT from issuing drivers licenses or new permits to use state roads until the governor appoints a special commission to study the environmental, social and economic impacts that using state roads has on the roads and on people.

And suppose I told you this commission’s members included: a member of a state environmental group; a college sociology professor; a person representing a public health group; someone from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; and someone from American Automobile Association.

And suppose I told you the moratorium remains in effect at least until the commission writes a report due January 1, 2017.

And finally, suppose I told you the Legislature could continue the moratorium beyond that date while considering the commission’s recommendations or ignore those recommendations and start issuing permits.

What would you say?

You might say: “Well Jeff, that is a crazy idea! After all, we already have laws on the books to handle this; we’ve been issuing permits for years without the help of special commissions; and it is vital that everyone, including new drivers and businesses, continue to have access the state’s road system.”

Yet that is essentially the approach state Sen. Jim Ferlo took toward unconventional gas drilling when he introduced SB 1100, the Statewide Natural Gas Drilling Moratorium Act.

New drilling permits would be put on hold until 2017 while a special commission studies, holds hearings and writes a report on the environmental, social and economic impacts of well drilling in Pennsylvania.

Ferlo said his bill will not hurt because the state already has issued more than 14,000 drilling permits -plenty to keep industry busy.

Maybe so, but think of the message this sends: “We really do not want you here.”

These moratoria have a way of never being lifted. Look at New York. Now that its moratorium is in place, try to imagine what it will take for Gov. Cuomo to lift it. What proof would the governor need to show that drilling is risk free?

With no guarantee a moratorium in Pennsylvania would ever be lifted, industry will shift activity to states willing to accommodate unconventional drilling. Meanwhile, businesses in our area that developed to support gas drilling will wither. And landowners who counted on a future royalty stream for their retirement may be disappointed.

Moratorium proposals strike me as disingenuous. They are not seeking a pause for a moment of quiet reflection. In reality, they seek prohibition cloaked in a reasonable sounding request for more study. Supporters usually demand assurances that targeted activities will not do harm – ever – before the moratorium may be lifted. Of course, that is a demand that cannot be met. How in the world would you demonstrate it?

I am betting the Legislature will reject SB 1100 and allow development of our natural gas resources to continue under the watchful eye of state regulators, the oversight of the Legislature, and the vigilance of an interested public. Surely that is a better way to achieve balanced development than waiting three years for an unelected commission to write a report.

Jeff Kotula is president of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.