Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, was joined by environmental organizations and legislators at a news conference Monday to urge Gov. Tom Corbett to protect the Clarence Moore Lands in Loyalsock State Forest from natural gas drilling.
Rep. Vitali announced that he has introduced legislation-- House Resolution 500-- which would urge Corbett to protect a 25,261-acre tract from drilling. The resolution has been co-sponsored by 53 representatives and has bipartisan support.
"The people of Pennsylvania do not want drilling in places like Loyalsock State Forest," said Rep. Vitali. "Gov. Corbett should do everything in his power to prevent drilling in this Commonwealth treasure."
The news conference was held less than a week after the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced it will give the public 15 days to comment after it drafts a surface development management agreement that would allow Anadarko and Southwest Energy Company to drill in the Clarence Moore Lands.
The companies own the mineral rights under the tract.
Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter Director Joanne Kilgour said the development management agreement will be more than 100 pages long and technical. She said the 15-day public comment period DCNR plans to hold on the agreement is insufficient.
"We are asking the Corbett administration and DCNR to have a valuable and meaningful public input process," Kilgour said.
She said DCNR should take public comments for 60 days, hold three public hearings, including one in the Williamsport area, and publicly disclose all environmental reviews and other impact assessments it and third parties conduct.
Kilgour and other speakers said the governor should do all he can to protect this tract because of its unique features, including the Old Loggers Path, a 27-mile hiking trail, and Rock Run, an exceptional value stream.
"The Old Loggers Path should be protected due to its stature in the hiking and backpacking community as one of Pennsylvania's finest and most enjoyable trails," said Curt Ashenfelter, executive director of the Keystone Trails Association. "It showcases the beauty of Pennsylvania's public lands and provides access to Rock Run, a stream of magnificent beauty."
If drilling was permitted, miles of roads and pipeline would carve the area, and dozens of well pads would dot the land, said Kristen Cevoli, fracking program director for PennEnvironment.
The public doesn't want that, said John Norbeck, vice president of PennFuture.
"Citizens do not want any further industrialization of their lands," Norbeck said.
Also participating in the news conference were Clean Water Action Pennsylvania State Director Myron Arnowitt, attorney John Childe, Ralph Kisberg from Responsible Drilling Alliance and state Reps. Pamela DeLissio (D-Montgomery), Eddie Day Pashinski (D-Luzerne), Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia) and Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery).