PRINTER'S NO. 2330
No. 365 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY FLICK, PRESTON, BUXTON, CRAHALLA, FICHTER, ARMSTRONG, BAKER, BALDWIN, BENNINGHOFF, BUNT, CREIGHTON, J. EVANS, FABRIZIO, FRANKEL, GEORGE, GOOD, GOODMAN, HARHAI, HERSHEY, JAMES, KAUFFMAN, LEH, MANN, McILHATTAN, R. MILLER, ROHRER, SOLOBAY, THOMAS AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 27, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, JUNE 27, 2005
A RESOLUTION 1 Urging the Congress of the United States to refrain from taking 2 action in developing legislation that would have the effect 3 of preventing or hindering the exploration, drilling, 4 development and production of natural gas in the Great Lakes. 5 WHEREAS, The Congress, in recognition of the need for a 6 comprehensive energy policy for this nation, is currently in the 7 process of developing legislation to establish the framework for 8 this policy; and 9 WHEREAS, While a vast majority of the issues relating to this 10 potential energy policy is of a broad nature, affecting each 11 state and commonwealth broadly and with similar consequences, 12 certain matters of national interest are uniquely applicable to 13 an individual state or commonwealth because the immediate impact 14 of the regulated activity will be felt almost entirely by that 15 state or commonwealth; and 16 WHEREAS, These activities, to the extent they occur within 17 the borders of a state or commonwealth, have been long and
1 successfully regulated by the impacted state or commonwealth, 2 and there is no national interest served by broadening the 3 powers of the Federal Government to regulate these activities; 4 and 5 WHEREAS, Geologic and geophysical indicators show that 6 substantial oil and gas reserves underlying that portion of Lake 7 Erie within the boundaries of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 8 may be available for development to assist in meeting the 9 nation's energy needs; and 10 WHEREAS, The exploration, drilling, development and 11 production of natural gas lying under the water bodies within 12 the boundaries of each state and commonwealth are activities 13 that meet the criteria set forth in this resolution; therefore 14 be it 15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 16 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress, in developing 17 legislation to establish an energy policy, to refrain from 18 taking action that would have the effect of preventing or 19 hindering the exploration, drilling, development and production 20 of natural gas in the Great Lakes, including, but not limited 21 to, Lake Erie, so long as the state or commonwealth in which the 22 activity is conducted provides a regulatory system for the 23 conduct of operations; and be it further 24 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 25 the members of Congress from Pennsylvania, to the members of the 26 Committee on Energy and Commerce of the United States House of 27 Representatives, to the members of the Committee on Resources of 28 the United States House of Representatives, to the members of 29 the Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate, to 30 the members of the Committee on Environment and Public Works of 20050H0365R2330 - 2 -
1 the United States Senate and to others holding leadership 2 positions on committees developing national energy policy 3 legislation. F3L82DMS/20050H0365R2330 - 3 -