Tell Us Your Story

Environmental Protection (DEP) in Pennsylvania. 

Click the picture for   

more information  

Senate Panel Approves Bills to Expand Natural Gas Services

Two bills sponsored by Senator Yaw advance.

"Senate Bill 738, known as the Natural Gas Consumer Access Act, promotes the extension of gas lines to customers who would bear the cost themselves, over time.  

Senate Bill 739 amends a 2008 law to promote alternative energy. The measure would shift $15 million out of a fund designed to promote high-efficiency or "green" buildings and use it instead for grants to help expand natural gas services to schools, hospitals, and small businesses."

WGAL News 8  

Looks at Effects of  

Natural Gas Drilling  

in Lycoming County 

It's not often that a south-central PA news station reveals even a few negative impacts of drilling. Yet even as WGAL filmed these changes to the "quietness of Lycoming County," they were careful to point out the money being made through shale gas extraction -  both through leasing and through impact fees to the county and township. 

Dueling Letters on the Loyalsock State  

Forest

Former DCNR Policy Director Rick Carlson wrote a letter last month voicing his complaints about the closed-door hearing.  DCNR Secretary Allan posted a letter in response, insisting that the public is getting its say.   

Read Rick Carlson's letter here 

Make Yourself a Pain in the Ass:  

"Don't drill here!" was the overwhelming declaration from a diverse group of five legislators, eight expert and citizen panelists, and numerous members of the public who testified at the May 1 public hearing on proposed drilling in the Loyalsock State Forest. Whether they spoke of brook trout, yellow-bellied flycatchers, history, hiking and recreation, the economic value of state forests, or the crystal clear waters of Rock Run, the single message from all rang loud and clear: "KEEP IT WILD!"

Local Rep. Rick Mirabito echoed that thought, encouraging the well over 100 citizens in attendance to raise their voices loudly over this vital issue. Mirabito urged everyone to let their opinion clearly be known to editorial boards, the DCNR, Governor Corbett's office, their legislators, and his own office. "Call every day," said Mirabito. "Make yourself a pain in the ass!"

Rep. Mirabito comments.  IMAGE: Ann Pinca

All who testified had good reason to  

do so - no drilling should take place in  

the 25,621-acre Clarence Moore tracts, the hotly disputed area of the  

Loyalsock State Forest discovered to 

be under negotiation for shale gas drilling. As PennFuture staff attorney Mark Szybist pointed out, through

its deed, the state has exclusive control of the surface rights to 18,870 of these acres, an issue previously tested in a
1989  court case that definitively ruled in the state's favor. Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, also an attorney, agreed with Szybist saying, "It's pretty clear there's no right to access." 

Despite this court affirmation, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) seems unwilling to exercise its surface control rights. Documents discovered through Right-to-Know Law requests indicate that the DCNR has been negotiating behind closed doors with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, which has one-half interest in the mineral rights. (The other half is owned by the International Development Corporation.) Following suit in its seeming determination to avoid truly public discussion, the DCNR declined to participate in this public hearing sponsored by the House Democratic Policy Committee, even though the hearing focused on this popular DCNR area containing the Old Loggers Path hiking trail and watersheds of the exceptional value streams Rock Run and Pleasant Stream.

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation did agree to participate and was represented by Mary Wolf, former Mayor of Williamsport and now Anadarko's government relations advisor. Wolf spoke first and smoothly portrayed the gas industry as our friend and benefactor, even beginning by recognizing former associates 

at Lycoming College by name. Voicing the usual industry platitudes, Wolf touted the economic benefits Anadarko has provided to the area and spoke of the corporation's "commitment to environmental stewardship."

Willing to stay for only a few inquiries from the state Representatives who questioned her on Anadarko's real need to drill in this area and the probability of its degradation, Wolf conveniently exited for a Chamber of Commerce event in Scranton. Her quick departure left unanswered the challenges brought forth later by the panelists as to her comments regarding the economic benefits that Anadarko has actually brought to the region, as well as her company's plans to protect the delicate ecology of this part of the Loyalsock State Forest.  

From the public testimony presented by many citizens after the panelists, it was absolutely evident that the event's attendees were in solidarity with protecting this very special place. Real concerns stemmed from the knowledge that oil and gas operators in Pennsylvania are not only exempt from many federal laws, but also appear to have unfettered influence upon the very state agencies that are charged with the protection of citizens' health and their natural environment. The people who spoke were lawyers, legislators, doctors, engineers, conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, ecologists, knowledgeable citizens, citizens who have been harmed from gas activity, 

and citizens who are just worried about drilling impacts. They all expressed, with knowledge and passion, real concerns about drilling in their state treasure, the Loyalsock State Forest.

One common theme was often repeated, as was stated earlier by Rep. Steve McCarter, D-Glenside. "Decisions we make today aren't for us ... The beauty of that particular area, and all state forests, really needs to be preserved for all those future generations."

Or perhaps more aptly put by one citizen: "What are you gonna tell your kids when the shit hits the fan and things are really, really bad and they say to you, 'Did you know this was happening?' And you have to look at them and say, 'Yes, but we didn't do anything about it.'"

Rep. Greg Vitali makes a point about drilling impacts.         IMAGE: Ann Pinca

From the Experts: Why We Need to Keep it Wild

                                                                              By Ann Pinca  

Positive energy at the House Democratic Policy Committee Public Hearing swelled as two panels of experts and citizens hammered home a mounting list of reasons why drilling should never take place in the Clarence Moore tracts and surrounding areas of the Loyalsock State Forest. Read below a brief summary of the excellent information the panelists presented.

Mark Szybist, staff attorney for PennFuture and a founding member of RDA, gave a detailed explanation of the legal issues surrounding the surface use control of the Clarence Moore lands. Szybist explained why DCNR has exclusive control of the surface to most of the Clarence Moore lands, and how it can use that control as leverage to protect the entire area, including the Rock Run watershed. Szybist asked that DCNR include public input and called on legislators to put in place DCNR regulations concerning the leasing and granting of right-of-ways for oil and gas development in state forests, as none currently exist.

John Trallo, Sullivan County resident and RDA member, spoke next, focusing on the economic benefits of Pennsylvania forests and the tremendous value they provide. Trallo referred to statistics showing that Pennsylvania currently places fourth in the nation in revenues generated from outdoor recreation. He warned of trading current sustainable jobs generated by state forests for the boom and bust jobs of the oil and gas industry. Trallo was followed by Jeff Schmidt, director of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club. Schmidt voiced concerns over DCNR's lack of transparency. Schmidt contends that instead of engaging public comment, DCNR's approach today is to "meet behind closed doors, stonewall when questioned, and hope the media doesn't pick up on what's happening." Schmidt urged the legislators to enact legislation that would require public engagement in DCNR's management of public state lands.

It is said a picture is worth a thousand words, and the PowerPoint presentation by Ralph Kisberg, a founding member of RDA, demonstrated that beautifully with photos of Rock Run juxtaposed against those of natural gas industry activity. Kisberg questioned why this area should be drilled now, in the beginning years of shale gas development, when extraction methods are so inefficient, supply is plentiful, and society has only begun to explore how best to utilize it. He also questioned Mary Wolf's claim that Anadarko "will minimize surface disturbance," pointing out it should be possible to extract gas beneath the forest from beyond its boundaries. Kisberg suggested Anadarko look to alternate development plans to extract the gas and preserve the assets of the state forest belonging to the public. 

Kisberg's presentation was followed with testimony by Steve Szoke, vice president of the Loyalsock Creek Watershed Association. Szoke effectively outlined the importance and quality of the wetlands and streams in the Clarence Moore lands. Two streams within the area are designated as Wilderness Wild Trout Streams, a designation Szoke described as "the best of the best of the best."  Szoke's comments were supported by presenter Walt Nicholson, Susquehanna Chapter vice president of Trout Unlimited. Nicholson's PowerPoint presentation offered examples of current gas development impacts in other areas of Pennsylvania state forests.

Keystone Trails Association executive director Curt Ashenfelter offered testimony on the Old Loggers Path hiking trail. Ashenfelter noted that DCNR has not guaranteed protection of the trail, even though it generates revenue through tourism and is maintained by volunteers. His testimony was followed by that of Paul Zeph, director of conservation for Audubon Pennsylvania. Zeph brought attention to the Loyalsock State Forest's designation in 2006 as a National Audubon Society Important Bird Area. The bogs and wetlands of the relatively unfragmented forest provide nesting areas for many deep woods birds, including the state-endangered Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Zeph's slides of the beautiful birds found in the Loyalsock State Forest provided yet another visualization of what will be lost if natural gas development takes place there.

Many thanks to the panelists for their testimony and to the House Democratic Policy Committee for hosting this important public hearing. Representatives who participated included: Rep. Rick Mirabito, D-Lycoming, Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, Rep. Steve McCarter, D-Glenside, Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, and Rep. Ronald Waters, D-Philadelphia. 

At the hearing's conclusion, Rep. Mirabito urged those in attendance to spread the word however possible, ending with a thought undoubtedly on many people's minds: "It doesn't necessarily have to be that we have to drill every single square inch of the planet."