October 23, 2007
Dear Legislator,
On behalf of PennEnvironment and our citizen members, we write to ask you to oppose (SB1127/special session HB32) which threatens Pennsylvania’s state forests and parklands, and makes it virtually impossible for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to protect these areas from any oil or gas drilling proposal.
Pennsylvania’s state forests and parks are essential for ensuring clean waterways and providing safe drinking water for communities downstream, preserving undisturbed wildlife habitat, and offering recreational opportunities for millions of Pennsylvanians and Americans. As lands in the public trust, we should not allow our state forests and parks to be sacrificed for short-sighted private gain.
Unfortunately, many of the Commonwealth’s wild places are faced with the growing threat of extractive and degrading industries. Already, oil and gas drilling is at record levels throughout much of the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania’s landscape is already scarred with more than 45,000 gas wells and over 16,000 oil wells. In the Commonwealth’s only national forest, the Allegheny National Forest, more than 10,000 wells already exist. Oil and gas companies have ample access to public and private lands across the Commonwealth for drilling--the remaining tracts of public lands that aren’t already available for private gain from timber, mining and oil and gas companies should be protected.
Keeping our state forestlands pristine is also integral to the success of Pennsylvania’s economy, as outlined in the Pennsylvania Wilds Initiative. Recreation in Pennsylvania’s forests has become more and more popular over time as people participate in activities from bicycling and hiking to fishing and hunting. In 2006, 4.2 million Pennsylvania residents took part in hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching; that same year, wildlife-related recreation contributed $4 billion to the state economy. Destroying the places in which people want to recreate will threaten one of Pennsylvania’s largest industrial sectors—Recreation and Tourism.
Sadly, legislation has recently been introduced that will make it virtually impossible for DCNR to preserve any tract of land in our state forests from oil and gas drilling. Senate Bill 1127 and special session House Bill 32 would mandate that DCNR auction the oil and gas leasing rights for any parcel of land for which two or more separate lease requests have been submitted. In a recent Associated Press story on this issue, DCNR spokeswoman Chris Novak noted that if passed, this legislation would, “subvert our ability to manage the forests sustainably.”
For these reasons, PennEnvironment asks you oppose Senate Bill 1127 and special session House Bill 32.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns about this legislation, or any other environmental issues. We look forward to continuing to work together to protect
Pennsylvania’s environment and natural heritage.
Sincerely,
David Masur, PennEnvironment Director
