Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan Wednesday announced that the department will hold a public meeting on Marcellus Shale issues in the Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County, from 4 to 6 p.m. on June 3 at Lycoming College in Williamsport.
“DCNR is responding to requests that the public be given the chance to provide the department with information and comments on possible gas development in the Loyalsock, in an area where we do not own the subsurface rights,” Allan said. “This meeting is the completion of a series of interactions with the public regarding this complicated and long-standing issue, including a local stakeholder meeting and a public web-based information session.”
As a result of a 1989 Commonwealth Court decision, about 25,000 acres of the Loyalsock State Forest are in a unique and complex situation in terms of surface ownership and rights.
“DCNR is committed to stewardship of state forests and to working proactively with all stakeholders - including the public and mineral right owners - to ensure the protection of these vital public lands,” Allan said.
The meeting will be held in Wendle Hall, Academic Center, off of Mulberry Street. All are welcome to participate in the public meeting. Registration is not required.
The meeting will begin with a short power-point presentation about the Loyalsock situation by Marcellus Program Manager Arianne Proctor. Following the presentation, questions will be answered by Secretary Allan, Proctor and State Forester Dan Devlin.
Following the question and answer session, participants will be offered the opportunity to make comments with a five-minute time limit.
If unable to attend the meeting, members of the public can submit written comments by sending email to: loyalsock@pa.gov.
DCNR held a local stakeholder meeting on this issue on April 4, and participated in a Penn State web-based information session on April 25.The webinar is archived and available on the Penn State Extension natural-gas website.
For more information, download the Clarence Moore Fact Sheet.