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.
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