"Pennsylvania state forests in the balance..."

"Gov. Corbett vows to reverse drilling banWith the ink barely dry on outgoing Gov. Ed Rendell’s order to halt new leasing of Pennsylvania’s state forests for Marcellus Shale gas drilling, incoming Gov. Tom Corbett vowed to reverse the ban.

PennEnvironment Director David Masur joined Gov. Rendell when he signed the order protecting our state forests. And now PennEnvironment has committed our resources to defending it. “We’ve already seen more than 700,000 acres of our state forestlands leased out for gas drilling. Isn’t that enough? Where do we draw the line and save the rest of our forests for hiking, camping and fishing?” said Masur.


New governor threatens rollback
Then-candidate Corbett was quick to criticize Gov. Rendell’s move, pledging to repeal the order just a day after Gov. Rendell issued it. A spokesperson for Corbett called the order “short-sighted and ill-advised,” even though a whopping 40 percent of our state forests have already been handed over to gas companies for drilling.

We already know that drilling in state forests can spoil our rivers and streams—just last spring, drilling-related pollution contaminated Tiadaghton State Forest’s Pine Creek in central Pennsylvania.

“Because all Pennsylvanians are the owners and stewards of our state forests, we have an obligation to protect them from encroaching gas drilling—and all the negative environmental impacts that come with it,” said Masur. “But if Tom Corbett has his way it will mean more roads and well pads in our pristine state forests—and in turn, habitat and forestlands that will be lost forever.”

Gas industry flexes muscles
If Gov. Corbett rolls back Gov. Rendell’s executive order, it will represent the latest victory for gas industry lobbyists. The drilling industry has used its access and influence in Harrisburg to stop legislation to protect state forests, block fees on the removal of natural gas from state lands, and stymie proposals to tighten pollution controls for activities related to gas drilling.

During the campaign, the industry heavily favored Gov. Corbett, with interests related to gas drilling contributing more than $800,000 to his campaign."


Thanks to PennEnvironment for posting!

Add us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/terraglo.lighting
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/terraglo