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DCNR Releases New Guidelines For Marcellus Shale Development On State Forest Lands
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The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources this week released new guidelines covering the management of oil and gas operations on State Forest Lands as part of a presentation before the Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission.

            Dan Devlin, Director of the Bureau of Forestry, said the comprehensive 156-page document starts with an overall set of principles DCNR will use in management operations, including the statement: The Bureau of Forestry will promote forest sustainability for managing the social and ecological impacts of oil and gas development according to lease agreements and the rights afforded to private owners of subsurface oil and gas interests.
            The guidance covers general topics like public safety, ecosystem and multiple-resource management and record-keeping and right-to-know issues.
            The meat of the guidelines are a set of best management practices covering all aspects of oil and gas development: seismic surveys, well pad sites, water acquisition, transport and storage, water disposal, roads, pipelines, compressor stations vegetation management, invasive plants, restoration and recreation.
            The document also spells out the review and approval process, sets guidelines for routine field inspections and reporting and responding to emergency and pollution incidents.
            A copy of the document is available online.
            For more on how DCNR manages oil and gas operations on State Forest and State Park lands, visit DCNR's Natural Gas Exploration On State Forest Land webpage.

5/2/2011

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