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Pa. judge rejects intervention in Act 13 suit

A Pennsylvania judge rejected a bid Friday from gas drillers and legislators to intervene in a legal challenge to the state's recently passed gas-drilling law.

A Pennsylvania judge rejected a bid Friday from gas drillers and legislators to intervene in a legal challenge to the state's recently passed gas-drilling law.

Senior Commonwealth Court Judge Keith Quigley ruled that both the industry and the legislators were already being adequately represented by the state attorney general and by documents pertaining to the passage of Act 13. The law, signed by Gov. Corbett in February, was enacted to collect impact fees from drilling companies tapping the vast gas supplies in the Marcellus Shale region.

Seven municipalities, including Yardley Borough and Nockamixon Township in Bucks County, joined with the Delaware Riverkeeper Network to challenge the law, saying its provisions overriding local zoning ordinances were unconstitutional. 

- Inquirer staff