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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Greg Vitali
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Vitali and environmentalists tell governor to halt leasing state forests for natural gas exploration
HARRISBURG, March 9 – State Reps. Greg Vitali and David Levdansky, a dozen other legislators representing urban and rural areas and environmental and sportsmen groups from across the state urged Gov. Ed Rendell not to lease any more state forest land in the Marcellus Shale region for natural gas drilling during a Capitol news conference today.
"It's time to stop exploiting our state forests to balance the budget," said Vitali, D-Delaware. "We already have made available 692,000 acres and there could potentially be thousands of wells drilled to extract the gas. We cannot lease any further state forest acreage without encroaching on the most sensitive lands which include old growth forests, habitat for endangered species and fragile ecosystems."
"Pennsylvanians want to protect their state forests for future generations, not destroy them and turn them into cash cows for the gas industry," said PennEnvironment Director David Masur. "We want to preserve our rich natural heritage, not raze it for short-term financial gain."
"Pennsylvania's state forests belong to all the people," said Jeff Schmidt, director of Pennsylvania's Sierra Club chapter. We already have allowed the oil and gas industry to drill on almost 700,000 acres of those public forests. Today, the people say 'no more!'"
"We’re asking for the governor to do the right thing here and protect our state forestland for future generations," said Jan Jarrett, president and CEO of PennFuture. "The governor has a chance to be a hero and create a lasting environmental legacy."
Vitali closed the news conference by challenging Rendell, asking him if he wants to be remembered with Pennsylvania's great conservationists, or with those who "despoiled our land."
About 1.5 million acres of state forest sits atop the Marcellus Shale, a mile-deep formation experts believe is rich in natural gas. Rendell's proposed budget calls for the state to lease additional land to raise another $180 million for the 2010-11 budget.
In response, Vitali introduced House Bill 2235, which would put a five-year moratorium on leasing additional state forest land for natural gas drilling. The State Forest Natural Gas Lease Moratorium Act would give the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources sole discretion after the moratorium ends Dec. 31, 2015 to determine if state forests can withstand additional natural gas exploration. It also requires the agency to do an annual report of gas drilling impact on state forests.
Vitali will co-host a House Majority Policy Committee hearing on leasing additional state forest land for natural gas drilling from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, March 18 at the Upper Merion Township Building, 175 W. Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia.
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