PrTopotecting Communities and Special Places
e-Newsletter  June 7, 2013
    
Responsible Drilling Alliance
quote"There's something about this silent stillness of nature 
that offers us healing. It's especially true of the
 Rock Run area and the Old Loggers Path.
                       This is sacred land."
                                
  ~ Jack McKee, Williamsport resident for 92 years        
UPCOMING EVENTS

Gasland Part II

June 19 at 7 p.m.
 
Keep it Wild!

Afternoon at
Band Rock


June 29 at 1 p.m.


 
  actionTAKE ACTION!

 We Still Need to Work to Keep it Wild! 

Don't let last Monday's meeting be the end!

If you haven't yet submitted a comment, send a message to DCNR at:

 

 

------------------------------------   

Rally in Harrisburg
 
Join Clean Water Action and Gas Truth of Central PA as they rally with Josh Fox, Director of Gasland and Gasland II, to protest the cover up of damaged drinking water in Pennsylvania.

June 18 at Noon 
PA State Capitol 
Harrisburg 
 
For more information,
call Nathan Sooy  
717.233.1801


Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/05/16/3400928/senate-committee-backs-epa-nominee.html#story


DCNRDCNR Meeting News
Attendance at the June 3 DCNR Public Meeting for the Loyalsock State Forest was outstanding!

Many RDA members prepared testimony for the meeting. Look here if you would like to read their words and wise comments.

Quote from the meeting:

"No one needs natural gas bad enough
to
rip the heart from
the Loyalsock"  



newsIN THE NEWS

PVR Marcellus Gas Gathering LLC  

Fined $150,000 for Illegal Discharges During Lycoming

County Pipeline Construction  

    

"The Department of Environmental Protection has fined PVR Marcellus Gas Gathering LLC of Williamsport, Lycoming County, $150,000 for discharge violations that occurred during construction of the Coal Mountain pipeline in four Lycoming County townships during fall 2011."

 


-------------------------------------      
Minuteman Environmental Services Raided by Federal and State Officials

Last week's raid by federal and state officials at Minuteman Environmental Services in Milton raised eyebrows since Governor Corbett  visited the plant in February 2012 and declared it an "American success story."

This week, the Governor visited another Milton business, ACF Industries rail car manufacturing. His visit there prompted questions about ties ACF has with John Moran, Jr., a controversial friend of the Governor.

Read about the Minuteman story here and the ACF visit here.
------------------------------------
"Frackalypse Now"

Watch this spoof by Mark Fiore on the gas industry's use of military psychological warfare tactics (Psyops).

Frackalypse - by Mark Fiore for DeSmogBlog
Frackalypse - by Mark Fiore for DeSmogBlog

------------------------------------

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relies on donations
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and advocacy
outreach in 2013, please consider
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sand
 A Line in the Frack Sand

                                                    by Ann Pinca with the RDA Board
 

Not one was for it. None. They were housewives, retirees, former gas industry workers, doctors, mothers, outdoor businessmen - and they came from a multitude of Pennsylvania towns across the state and beyond. They were young, old, or somewhere in between, and not a one of those 500 citizens at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' public meeting in Williamsport on June 3 supported it. Not a one of them stood up and said that drilling for natural gas in the Loyalsock State Forest is a good idea.

 

How could they? The facts overwhelmingly point in the opposite direction. Though the reasons given were many, the crowd's message was solidly one: Keep away from Rock Run and the Old Loggers Path. Wearing stickers saying
Keep it Wild - Keep Drilling Out and holding up bright green signs with the same message, the audience responded loudly with applause and the chant "Keep it wild - keep it wild - keep it wild" as point after point was made against drilling in the Loyalsock State Forest. Some stood, waiting in line almost two hours in a hot and non-air-conditioned Wendle Hall at Lycoming College to deliver their message to a dour and detached DCNR panel that looked obviously pained to be there. 

  

The DCNR panel.                                       IMAGE: Wendy Lynne Lee            

Marcellus Program Manager Arianne Proctor revealed publicly for the first time selected details from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation's proposed development plan for the Clarence Moore lands. A stunned audience listened as Proctor discussed the twenty-six well pads, four compressor stations, and five earthen water impoundments planned for the area, along with 15.6 miles of new roads, 15.5 miles of rebuilt roads, 34 miles of new pipeline right of way, and a communication system with poles and towers from 60-feet to 200-feet tall.

  

Anadarko proposes to install most of this where the watersheds of Rock Run and Pleasant Stream foster delicate wildlife in their mountaintop bogs and generate exceptional wild trout streams; where the Old Loggers Path hiking trail meanders through the forested mountains, connecting sweeping vista points along the way. But not to worry - Anadarko will paint, fence and screen those compressor stations with plants, and they've already assured us that they will "minimize surface disturbance."

 

Time and again the commenters referred to their right to clean air, pure water, and the "preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic values of the environment" guaranteed by Article 1, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution. Many asked why the DCNR can't just say NO under the current 

Jack McKee makes his comment.
                                      IMAGE: Wendy Lynne Lee
 

legal situation, given that the DCNR has exclusive rights to 18,870 acres of the Clarence Moore lands. 

  

DCNR Secretary Richard Allan testily responded that contrary to "misinformation" being presented by "certain organizations," the DCNR does not have complete control over the 18,870-acre

area, ruling out DCNR's ability to completely stop drilling. Without elaborating, Secretary Allan maintained that DCNR has only "a more than normal control over a portion of the surface."  

  

DCNR Chief Counsel Dennis Whitaker confused the audience by suggesting that the DCNR would commit a regulatory "taking" of Anadarko-owned oil and gas if it denied Anadarko access to the 18,870-acre area. He glossed over the fact that the DCNR's power to deny access comes from its deed, not from its regulatory powers. Fielding questions along with Secretary Allan and Mr. Whitaker were Ms. Proctor, State Forester Dan Devlin, and District Forester Richard Glinski.

 

Comments covered a wide range of subjects, from technical environmental concerns to loss of recreational opportunities. Some offered possible solutions, suggesting ways for the state to purchase back the mineral rights. Another appealed to DCNR to do something "courageous and heroic" by sparing the Loyalsock Forest. Others demanded more public meetings across the state for the Loyalsock Forest and for all public lands. Still others put the DCNR and Anadarko on warning that they will not stay silent should drilling proceed but will fight for their Loyalsock, firmly promising, "I'll see you in the forest."

 

One woman asked if the state considered the psychological value of the forest. "I would rather go to Rock Run than take a Prozac," she said. A similar thought was eloquently stated by 92-year-old Jack McKee, a life-long resident of Williamsport whose first fishing trip was at Rock Run almost 80 years ago.

 

Proctor acknowledged the impacts to the forest would be substantial, but emphasized several times that the DCNR has not accepted or approved Anadarko's plan, and that the plan would be subject to many changes if it moves forward. But many feel that this is already a done deal - that the DCNR has already agreed to exchange this part of the Loyalsock State Forest for so many pieces of silver.

 

DCNR's mission is to conserve, protect, and enhance Pennsylvania's natural resources for present and future generations' use and enjoyment. DCNR seemingly chose to not keep a record of any of the comments made and held this meeting only when public outcry demanded it. Although this should only be the beginning of the discussion between DCNR and its citizen stakeholders, this meeting was billed as "the completion" of public interaction.

 

We must demand that DCNR follow their mission and do their job to preserve the Loyalsock State Forest - to Keep it Wild for the citizens of Pennsylvania.

    

Waiting in the public comment line for a chance to speak
.                                                                     IMAGE: Wendy Lynne Lee 

gaslandGASLAND PART II
RDA and Josh Fox Bring Myth-Piercing Documentary
to Williamsport

FREE ADMISSION!    
Film:  7-9 p.m.   Q&A with Josh Fox:  9-10 p.m.

Wednesday, June 19
7:00 p.m.

Community Arts Center
220 West Fourth Street. Williamsport, PA 
570.326.2424

Josh Fox, director of the 2011 Academy Award-nominated documentary Gasland, will attend a free screening of his upcoming film Gasland II on Wednesday, June 19 at 7 p.m., at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport.

"Gasland II features real people - ordinary Americans - whose lives have been upended by the dirty and dangerous process of fracking." says producer/director Josh Fox. "That's why I'm working with environmental leaders and advocates across the country to protect our health, water, climate and landscapes and to prevent state and federal governments from allowing a path to destruction. We need to educate ourselves and our elected leaders and 

ban this toxic practice and move vigorously toward renewable energy."

Don't miss this special event!    Click here for more information



Are You Ready bandr 
for Some Forest Fun?

Join Keep it Wild / RDA for a summer afternoon in the
McIntyre Wild Area of the Loyalsock State Forest!

Saturday, June 29 at 1 p.m.
View from Band Rock.   IMAGE: Jim Slotterback

Gather at 1 p.m. at Band Rock to kick off the afternoon with music  

by Doug McMinn. Join us on a hike, explore the area, or just relax in the forest. Just a few miles uphill from the cooling waters of Rock Run!

 

Check here for more details or call 570.494.7583

 
RDA Newsletter

Ann Pinca, managing editor
Ted Stroter, RDA Board of Directors editor
Ralph Kisberg, contributing editor
Robbie Cross, President - RDA Board of Directors
Jenni Slotterback, Secretary - RDA Board of Directors
Barb Jarmoska, Treasurer - RDA Board of Directors
Mark Szybist - RDA Board of Directors
Kevin Heatley - RDA Board of Directors
Roscoe McCloskey - RDA Board of Directors


This weekly e-letter is written and designed by the RDA consultants and Board of Directors and sent to RDA members/subscribers. Every effort is made to assure complete accuracy in each issue. This publication and the information contained herein is copyrighted by RDA and Ann Pinca and may not be reproduced without permission. All rights reserved. Readers are invited to forward this newsletter in its entirety to broaden the scope of its outreach. Readers are also invited to comment to the managing editor regarding contents and to submit articles to be considered for publication in a future issue.




Donations may also be sent by mail to: Responsible Drilling Alliance, P.O. Box 502, Williamsport, PA 17703 
Thank you for your support!
    
Responsible Drilling Alliance