Pa. High Court Declines to Hear Argument on Zoning Preemption Issues

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania's high court has declined to hear appeals by oil and gas interests who unsuccessfully challenged county zoning ordinances as preempted by the commonwealth's statutory scheme for well permits. Penneco Oil Company Inc., et al. v. The County of Fayette, Pennsylvania, et al., Nos. 553 and 556 WAL 2010 (Pa. Sup. Ct.).

The orders denying petitions by Range Resources-Appalachia LLC, Penneco Oil Company Inc. and The Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association leaves in place a June 2010 Commonwealth Court order affirming the authority of Fayette County, Pa., to include the siting of oil and gas wells …