Utilities commission extends shale hearings

HARRRISBURG — The Public Utilities Commission will hold a second en banc hearing on Marcellus shale development at 1 p.m. June 16, in Hearing Room 1 of the Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Harrisburg. More details will follow as they are available on the Marcellus Shale page which is found as a link under the natural gas tab on the PUC website. The four PUC Commissioners will conduct the en banc hearing to solicit additional comments from specific parties who are being invited to testify. Interested parties are invited to submit comments. Marcellus Shale development creates numerous issues and unanswered questions, many of which impact the Commission’s core functions. The en banc hearings are to examine these questions sooner rather than later so that the Commission can fully protect the public while not stifling economic growth. The hearings do not examine issues outside of the Commission’s jurisdiction such as water quality or other environmental issues. The PUC has created a page on its website on Marcellus Shale issues. Audio of the April hearing is available there as well as the testimony and comments filed in the proceeding. Go to www.puc.state.pa.us/naturalgas/naturalgas_marcellus_Shale.aspx .