Chapter 20, “Policing the State,” describes the history of ACT 13, the Pennsylvania law that revoked the local government's ability to regulate oil and gas operators. As you read about the ensuing legal battle, culminating in key provisions of ACT 13 bein

While Kendra works on the civil suit, John is challenging the laws recently formulated and passed by the Republican state legislature (Act 13). Act 13 essentially provides fossil fuel companies with free access to land and resources, and grants them no liability for problems that occur as a result of their work. One clause in the law prohibits physicians from disclosing test results that relate to investigations into contamination to anyone but the individual persons tested. John plans to challenge the law based on its potential to countermand long-standing local zoning laws: his emphasis.... the fundamental, bi-partisan rights of landowners.