Pa. protesters say drilling bills erode local control

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — With state lawmakers returning to Harrisburg, gas-drilling opponents are protesting legislation that they say would take away local officials’ ability to control the activity.

About 150 members of environmentalist groups and local citizen activists staged a raucous rally in the Capitol Rotunda on today that targeted two competing bills to regulate the fast-growing industry.

They criticized a provision in both bills — one approved by the House, the other by the Senate — that would designate the state attorney general’s office as the arbiter of local zoning disputes.

One speaker, Maria Payan of York County, said the bill would prevent citizens from passing laws to protect their own health and safety.

The House and Senate are expected to name a conference committee to seek a compromise.