Oct. 19--A few weeks after Jim Grimsley watched the state Department of Environmental Protection respond to some of the most significant chemical spills in Pennsylvania this year, he learned that DEP would experience a budget cut that could mean the loss of 300 jobs.

Grimsley was perplexed. He lives in the Marcellus Shale region, where gas well drilling is a booming industry, and he has gas wells on and around his property.

"This is when I thought they would want DEP watching these guys," he said of the gas industry.

DEP lost $159 million, or nearly 27 percent of its funding, in the 2009-10 state budget.

DEP spokeswoman Teresa Candori could not provide specifics, but said the department expected to complete its plan for implementing the funding cut within a few weeks.

A statement from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council said 300 staff positions were at risk.

One of the hottest areas in the state for gas development is the northen tier, including Susquehanna County. Last month, three chemical spills occurred at the same drilling site in rapid sucession, and DEP ordered Cabot Oil & Gas to stop using the water-intensive process known as "fracking" at certain gas wells.

On Friday, DEP lifted the ban. A DEP statement said Cabot had submitted "an updated preparedness, prevention, and contingency" plan.

The chemical spills occurred on the property of a dairy farming family who leased land to Cabot for drilling. Grimsley, a neighbor, leased his own property to Cabot and followed DEP's management of the spill situation.

When he heard about the budget, he said, "It just seemed a little odd to be cutting at this time."

Candori, the DEP spokeswoman, said the agency recently increased the application fee for drilling permits and used the revenue to double the number of staffers devoted to oil and gas work.

FORD TURNER: 717-255-8486 or fturner@patriot-news.com

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