Court strikes down provisions in gas-drilling law

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania appellate court panel today struck down provisions in a new law regulating the state’s booming natural gas industry that opponents said would leave municipalities defenseless to protect property owners from being surrounded by drilling sites or waste pits.

The decision was a defeat for Gov. Tom Corbett and the natural gas industry, which had long sought the limitations, and a prompt appeal to the state Supreme Court was expected.

Commonwealth Court judges ruled, in a 4-3 decision, that the limitations in so-called Act 13 violated the state constitution. Seven municipalities had sued over the sweeping, five-month-old law, saying it unconstitutionally takes away the power to control property from towns and landowners for the benefit of the oil and gas industry.

“This is a wonderful victory for local government, a recognition that local municipal officials have a valid interest in protecting the property of their citizens,” said Jordan Yeager, one of the lawyers who argued on behalf of the municipalities. “Act 13 took that away and the court said that the governor and the Legislature had gone too far.”