Etna, PA Illegal Ban on Marcellus Shale Drilling to End Soon

The borough of Etna, PA, located in Allegheny County (near Pittsburgh) plans to reverse its ban on Marcellus Shale drilling in the borough. The original ban is illegal according to Pennsylvania state law.

Etna council will hold a public hearing June 21 on resolutions that would allow Marcellus Shale drilling in a limited area of the borough and permit residents to install small windmills or solar panels to encourage renewable energy usage.

Council members said in March that, based on legal advice, they now believe Etna’s existing drilling ban is illegal and needs to be revised.

The hearing will start at 7 p.m. in the borough building, followed by the regular council meeting at 7:30 p.m.*

*Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (May 5, 2011) – Borough ban on drilling may end