8/10/11: Pittsburgh ban shenanigans; shale plays are big deals; another mud spill.
- The lack of Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's signature on a proposal to add a ban on gas drilling to the city's charter has not deterred supporters on City Council, writes the Post-Gazette's Tim McNulty. Six council members urged the Allegheny County elections division Tuesday to move forward with a ballot question anyway, setting off another round of uncertainty with the mayor still able to veto the measure until tomorrow.
- Shale gas plays have been involved in seven of the 10 largest oil and gas company deals during the past three months, according to the P-G's Erich Schwartzel. He explains that those deals have come with big price tags, and meant billions in investments in the Marcellus.
- From earlier this week: Peters council voted Monday night to allow drilling in the mostly residential township, says the P-G's Janice Crompton.
- P-G reporter Don Hopey takes a look at the criticism from Chesapeake Energy of new federal permit requirements related to stream and wetland encroachments.
- The Scranton Times-Tribune says a third drilling mud spill has occurred at a Susquehanna County stream, as subcontractors for Laser Northeast Gathering Co. were allowed to return to drilling after two earlier mishaps.
- In New York, the state comptroller has proposed creating a fund paid for by gas drillers to set aside cash for environmental clean-up, says the Albany Times-Union. Currently the state requires a $5,000 bonding fee per well.
- And Pennsylvania's "tax, fee or whatever" debate for gas drilling caught the attention of a Council of Foreign Relations fellow. He sides with the tax supporters, pointing to many of the arguments that have been heard in the Capitol over the past two years (public benefits, won't crush industry, other states have one). A commentor at the bottom notes the fact most responsible for preventing the recent round of debate from going further: the politics of the governor's opposition to the tax, and no-tax-increase pledge.