Judge Grants Request for Expedited Hearing in Act 13 Challenge

A Commonwealth Court judge on Wednesday granted a request for an expedited hearing on a challenge to Act 13—the state's new Marcellus Shale law.

requested the expedited hearing Tuesday.

The hearing will be held  at 10 a.m. April 11 in Commonwealth Court to see if the judge will grant injunctive relief.

Cecil Township solicitor John Smith, who represents the plaintiffs, said the hope is that the judge will grant an injunction. That would delay the implementation of Act 13 until the challenge could be heard in its entirety.

Act 13 is set to go into effect April 14.

, Peters Township, South Fayette, Robinson Township and Mt. Pleasant Township are among the communities that have signed onto the challenge.