Shine Light on Gas Drilling Plans in Loyalsock State Forest, Governor Corbett

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Organizations representing over 100,000 Pennsylvania citizens are calling on Governor Tom Corbett to make public the plans by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation to drill in a wild part of the Loyalsock State Forest in Lycoming County known as the “Clarence Moore lands.” The process, which will affect some of the Commonwealth’s most sensitive public lands, lacks transparency and input by the public, to whom these lands belong. The coalition calls for public release of the proposal and a ninety-day comment period, including statewide public hearings.

The 25,621-acre Clarence Moore lands are home to extraordinary natural and recreational resources including the Exceptional Value watersheds of Rock Run and Pleasant Stream, the Old Loggers Path hiking trail and a National Audubon Society-designated Important Bird Area. To date, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has held one public meeting on potential gas drilling in this area, describing the meeting as “the completion” of its interactions with the public.  Because of unique legal circumstances, DCNR has unusual power to prevent surface disturbance in most, if not all, of this significant public wild area.

 “Any decision to open the Clarence Moore lands to gas development will permanently change their wild character. Because these are public lands belonging to all citizens of the Commonwealth, that decision requires a transparent public process.” said Mark Szybist, staff attorney at PennFuture.

"Sierra Club members from throughout Pennsylvania visit the Loyalsock State Forest to swim, fish, hike and birdwatch.  They want DCNR to stop the backroom negotiations with Anadarko.  They want to know the details of what is proposed, and they expect DCNR to allow the public ample time to comment," said Jeff Schmidt, Director, Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter.

"Full disclosure of Anadarko's plans and the opportunity to share it with our stakeholders in the hiking community is imperative for a robust public hearing process that will provide for the protection of the Old Loggers Path," said Curt Ashenfelter Executive Director of the Keystone Trails Association. 

The coalition delivered this letter to state officials including Governor Tom Corbett, DCNR Secretary Richard J. Allan, and Acting Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, E. Christopher Abruzzo. The letter was signed by leadership from: Responsible Drilling Alliance; PennFuture; Pennsylvania Forest Coalition; Sierra Club, Pennsylvania Chapter; Keystone Trails Association; PennEnvironment; League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania; Loyalsock Creek Watershed Association; Audubon Pennsylvania and Lycoming Audubon; Pennsylvania Division Izaak Walton League; Shale Justice Coalition; and Organizations United for the Environment.

MEDIA CONTACTS:   
Mark Szybist, staff attorney, PennFuture, 570-208-4007, szybist@pennfuture.org

Jeff Schmidt, Director, Sierra Club PA Chapter, 717-232-010, jeff.schmidt@sierraclub.org

Curt Ashenfelter, Executive Director, Keystone Trails Association, 717-418-4661, ktahike@verizon.net

Rock Run A beautiful wild and natural area, about to be destroyed by Gas Drilling

Rock Run is an exquisitely beautiful, exceptional value stream that runs through the heart of the Loyalsock state forest. It has been called the prettiest stream in Pennsylvania.

But all of that may change!

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation may soon be drilling for natural gas in this area!  

A patchwork of mixed mineral rights ownership lies under much of the Loyalsock. That's because while Pennsylvania Lumber Company sold the land to the state, it sold the mineral rights to others. The state ultimately acquired some rights, while rights to other tracts were bought by others and have been bought and sold over the years.

But  an unusual deed restriction gives the state DCNR an opportunity to restrict development on 18,870 acres of the Loyalsock where the state does not own mineral rights, including a portion of the Rock Run headwaters.

The mineral rights to that tract were once owned by  Clarence Moore. The wording in the deed contains an unusual restriction in which the right of the mineral rights owner to access oil and gas from the surface was terminated after 50 years — in 1983.

This 50-year limitation on surface access was challenged by Moore, but upheld by Commonwealth Court in 1989 which concluded that "access subsequent to March 28, 1983, is controlled by the Commonwealth." That conclusion was upheld again by the state Board of Claims in 1999.

The state has a unique opportunity to protect Rock Run and a sizable chunk of Loyalsock State Forest, although we are are worried the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which manages the Loyalsock and other state forests, will not exercise its authority on the matter.

In a letter to the DCNR, The Sierra Club and other groups feel the DNCR needs to specifically grant a right-of-way to Anadarko to work on the surface, but it cannot do so under state law if the right-of-way would "so adversely affect the land as to interfere with its usual and orderly administration." The letter states drilling would likely adversely affect Rock Run, which is designated an exceptional value stream. DNCR officials confirm that they are still in negotiations with Anadarko over drilling in the area.

Recently the DNCR held a a closed-door meeting with with invited "stakeholders", which were certain elected officials, a representative of the Sierra Club and a select few other environmental groups to discuss drilling for natural gas on nearly 25,000 acres in the Rock Run area of McIntyre Township.

During that meeting we delivered a letter to former DCNR Secretary Rick Allen repeating our request for the agency to hold a public hearing on its gas drilling plans. 

The letter was signed by 28 conservation, recreation and environmental organizations. 

Secretary Allen made it clear that his agency is interested only in hearing from those it chooses to. Participants said Allen told them that the closed-door meeting was the public meeting. 

The spectacular and unique resources of the Loyalsock draw visitors from all over the state. It includes some of the best hiking trails in the state forest system and the watershed of the exquisite Rock Run. 

Taxpayers bought this land pay for its maintenance.

The public owns it. DCNR should be listening Its  owners (all citizens of Pennsylvania)  but as the Corbett administration keeps bowing  to the Gas Drillers  This precious resource that The DNCR is charged with protecting,  is in grave danger.

And what does DCNR imply?  Pennsylvania citizens, you're not welcome. Your input on the outcomes is less important than that of the ones who want destroy it. 
















If you feel this area is too important to drill, then click here to sign the petition to tell the Corbett Administration: Listen to the People's Voice - No Drilling in the Loyalsock State Forest

UPDATED: June 26, 2013 - 12:23pm

Photos courtesy of friends of rock run