TribLive Editorial: State Fines Should Be Higher Than Tax Cuts To Penalize Environmental Leaks

This editorial was first published on TribLive.com on October 19, 2022--

 

Pennsylvania has built much of its history on energy, from the coal that fueled the steel industry to the first oil pumped from the ground to the natural gas being pried out today.

That has built up the Keystone State. It also has left a legacy of environmental fallout that still consumes us. The energy industry continues to be an important part of the economy — balanced with ongoing ecological concerns.

Most recently, that was represented in a negotiated settlement between the Department of Environmental Protection, Shell Pipeline Co. and Shell’s contractor, Minnesota Limited.

DEP performed 67 inspections of the 45-mile Falcon pipeline while it was being built. 

Even before operation, there were issues with leaks into waterways, including the Ohio River and Beaver County’s Ambridge Reservoir.

The leaks weren’t negligible. They resulted in 48,000 gallons of drilling fluid polluting the waters. More importantly, when the leaks occurred, no one reported them. Those failures translated to a $670,000 fine.

On the one hand, this proves DEP did its job. It performed the inspections. It followed up as problems were uncovered. It levied penalties accordingly.

But why is that all that can be done?

The fines Shell will pay the state are nothing compared to the money it receives from Pennsylvania. 

The Shell refinery in Beaver County that is connected to gas-processing plants by the pipeline comes with $1.5 billion in state tax incentives.

Shell isn’t alone. Pennsylvania loves to hand over tax breaks to encourage businesses to move in, build new or expand.

But why not marry DEP’s diligence to something with a little more bite when it comes to a business functioning on the state’s dime? 

Why not treat corporate welfare recipients more like people who get public money?

NewsClips:

-- 175 Organizations, 6,751 Individuals Send Letter Urging Full Oil & Gas Fracking Wastewater Ban In Delaware River Basin 

-- Inside Climate News: Sinkholes And Damage Attributed To Mariner East II Natural Gas Pipeline Construction Underline The Stakes In PA’s Governor’s Race

-- Chambersburg Public Opinion: Sharp Divide Between PA Candidates For Governor On Natural Gas, Other Issues

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Environmentalists Fear A Massive New Plastics Plant Near Pittsburgh Will Worsen Pollution, Stimulate Natural Gas Fracking

Related Articles:

-- Republican Herald Editorial: State Lawmakers Should Adopt Rules That Preclude State Taxpayers From Subsidizing Pollution From Oil & Gas Industry  [PaEN]

-- Republican Herald Editorial: Dangerous Course For Oil & Gas Well Emissions, Obstructionists Should Get Out Of The Way  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Shell, Pipeline Contractor Assessed $670,000 Penalty For Falcon Ethane Pipeline Construction Violations In Allegheny, Beaver, Washington Counties  [PaEN]

-- Senate Committee Reported Out Bill To Deny Counties Drilling Impact Fee Revenue If Only 99% Of The Land In Their County Available For Shale Gas Leasing; Other Bills  [PaEN]

-- PA League Of Women Voters, University Of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health Host 2022 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference Online Nov. 15-16  [PaEN]

Related Articles - Major Oil & Gas Criminal/Monetary Penalties Last 2 Years:

-- House Committee Fails To Address $70 Million In Penalties On Natural Gas Pipelines Or Real Concerns Of People Living Near Gas Production & Distribution Facilities

-- AG Shapiro: Energy Transfer/Sunoco Convicted Of Criminal Charges Related To Construction Of Mariner East 2 & Revolution Natural Gas/Liquids Pipelines In PA

-- Sunoco/Mariner East Pipeline To Pay $4 Million In Damages And Restore Lake At Marsh Creek State Park Polluted By A Spill In Chester County

-- Federal Court Approves DEP, EPA, DOJ Settlement With Chesapeake Appalachia For Failure To Identify, Protect Wetlands At 76 Gas Well Drilling Sites, $1.9 Million Penalty

-- PUC Imposes $1 Million Penalty On Energy Transfer Company For 2018 Revolution Pipeline Explosion In Beaver County

-- DEP Collects $497,000, Fish & Boat Commission Collects $25,855 In Penalties For Latest Violations Involving Mariner East 2 Pipeline Construction In Lebanon County

-- DEP: Range Resources Pays $294,000 Penalty For Delaying The Plugging Of 42 Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In 8 Counties

-- DEP: Olympus Energy Natural Gas Driller Fined $175,000 For Water Quality Violations In Allegheny County

-- DEP Collects $147,250 Penalty From Rice Drilling B LLC For Erosion & Sedimentation Violations In Greene County; DEP Found Rice Had Hundreds Of Other Violations, Including Abandoning Wells Without Plugging Them

-- DEP Collects $140,000 Penalty From ETC Northeast Field Services For Pipeline Construction Violations In Beaver County

-- DEP Order Requires Payment Of $125,000 Penalty For Latest Revolution Natural Gas Pipeline Construction Violations In Beaver County

-- DEP Collects $85,000 Penalty For Mariner East 2 Pipeline Construction Violations In Blair, Cumberland, Juniata, Lebanon Counties

-- AP: PUC Judge: Sunoco/Energy Transfer Failed To Protect Delaware County Community During Construction Of Mariner East Pipeline, $51,000 Penalty Proposed

-- AG Shapiro: Southeast Directional Drilling Pleads Guilty To Contaminating Water Supply In Washington County, To Pay $15,000 Fine

[Posted: October 19, 2022]  PA Environment Digest