Judges to Decide Marcellus Shale Law Constitutionality

HARRISBURG – A Commonwealth Court will decide whether or not Pennsylvania’s new marcellus shale law is constitutional.

Seven municipalities have challenged the law, saying it gives the state too much control over local government.

The plaintiffs say the law revokes local authority over where they must allow drilling and related activity – including rigs, waste pits, pipelines and compressor stations.

According to the Centre Daily Times, President Judge Dan Pellegrini asked a lawyer representing the state whether municipal zoning becomes irrational if the state does for every industry what it did for the natural gas industry.