Environmental Shareholder James O'Toole Talks Fracking Law Appeal in Law360

In July, Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court ruled in that Act 13, the state's attempt to create a statewide scheme to regulate oil and gas operations, illegally overrides local zoning powers.

The Commonwealth is now appealing that decision, which could have significant impact on the state's booming energy industry.

"The notion is that zoning issues could significantly curtail development if [gas developers] have to go back through each municipality," explained James O'Toole, co-chair of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's Energy Section, in a Law360 article.

"It's much simpler if we could have a more uniform approach to dealing with land use – to have predictable regulations across the state."

Read the full article – "Drillers Face Harder Times if Pa. Pro-Fracking Law Falls" (October 16, 2012)