| Share this: | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
DCNR Secretary: No New State Forest Drilling Planned
|
|
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan Wednesday told the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee the future of his agency is in working better and smarter and getting back to basics.
In comments before the Committee, Allan noted in his first five months he has already visited 22 of Pennsylvania's 117 State Parks and six of 20 State Forest Districts to hear from DCNR staff and stakeholders about their needs.
"My vision for this department is to hold it up as the best conservation agency in the country, because how we manage our lands; protect our open spaces; grow our communities; inspire our citizens; and preserve precious habitat will shape our future as Pennsylvanians," Allan said. "With 100 years of experience, we have learned what works. We’re going back to basics – back to protecting our parks and forests, back to providing citizens with outstanding recreational opportunities, and back to taking good care of our staff and the natural and recreational resources we’ve been entrusted to protect."
Allan said his priorities will be:
-- Maintaining strong forest certification for well-managed forests and forest-products that command a higher market demand;
-- Continuing high standards of operation, public services and natural resource management at our “Gold Medal” state parks;
-- Supporting the Conservation Landscape Initiative that ties natural assets to tourism and community revitalization. They focus DCNR efforts on the highest value natural areas in Pennsylvania; help reconnect communities to rivers, trails, and open space; and, strengthen economies through strategic public-private partnerships;
-- Improving our management of public lands in an era of growing oil and gas production with the highest level of best management practices, most protective leases and with open communication with industry representatives; and
-- Offering our highly trained and unique staff at DCNR as Commonwealth centers of technical expertise for green infrastructure, green grant making, sustainable landscapes, geologic and mapping services, and sustainable buildings and energy efficiency.
On Marcellus Shale natural gas issues, Allan noted $65 million from existing drilling royalties in the Oil and Gas Fund have helped pay for continued operation of State Parks and State Forests which now provides more support for these programs than the General Fund, which in FY 2011-12 contributes $58.3 million. Allan said the royalties from existing oil and gas leasing should reach $63 million in FY 2012-13 up from about $27 million now based on current market trends. There are now about 120 producing Marcellus Shale wells with 50 to 100 more going in next year, Allan said.
In response to questions from Committee members, Allan said DCNR is not planning for increased Marcellus Shale drilling on State Forest lands.
Allan said DCNR plans to expand the use of public-private partnerships and the use of private concessionaires in State Parks and State Forests and looks to take on several new initiatives--
-- Enhancing our technical assistance and support for river and trail communities to help them grow and benefit from these assets. With the nation’s leading water trail program we are providing close-to-home opportunities for Pennsylvania’s citizens to connect with the outdoors;
-- Formulating urban and rural reforestation and forest protection measures to protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed and our own native rivers and streams; and
-- Working with departments of Health and Community and Economic Development, and many local partners, we will promote livable, walkable communities with trails, greenways, and other projects.
A copy of Secretary Allan's remarks are available online.
Rep. Scott Hutchins (R-Venango) serves as Majority Chair and Rep. Bud George (D-Clearfield) serves as Minority Chair.
|
|
10/3/2011 |
| Go To Preceding Article Go To Next Article |