Gee, I’m sorry but having @fishandboat @PAGameComm comply with law is NOT “usurping” their authority. http://t.co/HOjlWbMZZI
— Mike Krancer (@MikeKrancer) September 17, 2013
Former Department of Environment Secretary Michael Krancer explains his support for House Bill 1576 and, surprise surprise, Krancer cites testimony from the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business Industry. The full document can be found below, but here are some nuggets of glory from this testimony. Emphasis Added.
The Pennsylvania Chamber represents thousands of businesses from all industry sectors and of all sizes—from sole proprietors to Fortune 100 corporations. On behalf of the Pennsylvania Chamber, I want to thank both standing committees for giving us the opportunity to provide testimony on House Bill 1576, which would establish the Endangered Species Coordination Act.
Presently, any industry in Pennsylvania that seeks a state permit for development or redevelopment projects is required to evaluate their potential impact on threatened and endangered species and their critical habitats. As you have already heard from some industries in the state, this current process can often lead to unnecessary delays that ultimately increase the costs of these economic development projects, consequently undermining the necessary balance between threatened and endangered species management and economic development in the state. House Bill 1576 attempts to realign this important balance by establishing a uniform, transparent, and accountable process for the evaluation, designation, and protection of threatened and endangered species in Pennsylvania.
First and foremost, I would like to dispel the misconception that this legislation benefits only the natural gas industry. You have already heard from other industries, and you are likely to hear from more, about how House Bill 1576 would improve and provide more balance to the current process for evaluating, designating, and protecting threatened and endangered species. The intense focus placed on one specific industry diminishes the concerns faced by a multitude of industries impacted by the current process.
Furthermore, I respectfully would like to remind the committees that environmental regulatory requirements cost businesses hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars in compliance. Revenue set aside to comply with these requirements is revenue that is not being used for research and development, the commercialization of new products, business development, and, ultimately, job creation in a multitude of occupations throughout the state. This is not to say or suggest in any way that these requirements should be repealed. Certainly, the Pennsylvania Chamber and its members believe that there are certain environmental regulatory requirements that are necessary to ensure environmental and ecosystem protection.
Business and industry only ask to have the same input in the PGC and PFBC regulatory process as it is afforded with other agencies. Other stakeholders should welcome this opportunity as well. In fact, having threatened and endangered species designations subject to the Regulatory Review Act could strengthen such designations because they would have received feedback from all stakeholders with an interest in the designation process. As I mentioned at the beginning of this testimony, it is about striking an appropriate balance between threatened and endangered species management and economic development, and House Bill 1576 does just that.
You see! It’s not about letting the Natural Gas Industry run rampant across Pennsylvania! It’s about letting ALL industries run rampant across Pennsylvania, and in the end it will strengthen endangered species designations!
For continuing coverage on House Bill 1576, please click on the following links:
- Environmental Legislation in Pennsylvania Threatens Whistleblowers & Threatened and Endangered Species
- State Lawmaker Uses State-Specific Endangered Species to Gut State Endangered Species List: Doesn’t Want Commonwealth at “Competitive Disadvantage“
- Oil and Gas Industry Writes Letter in Support of Endangered Species Destruction Act; Supports Public Gag Order in the Process
- Pennsylvania Lawmaker Blasts Endangered Species Legislation for Putting Fossil Fuel Profits Over Endangered Species
PA Chamber Testimony on HB 1576 (September 17, 2013)
