Out of the Woods: Sierra Club Wants National Park Service to Halt Gas Drilling on State Lands

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club sent a letter to the National Park Service, the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on Wednesday seeking a natural gas drilling moratorium on all state lands.
The letter says the state is violating the Land and Water Conservation Act by allowing gas drilling on lands purchased with LWCA funds.
The Sierra Club letter says if those lands are used for anything other than recreation, the state needs the approval of the National Park Service.

“Pennsylvania is allowing extensive drilling on Conservation Act-protected lands, but has not, to our knowledge, requested NPS approval of these actions, or even secured a formal NPS Solicitor’s opinion as to when drilling is likely to constitute a “conversion” under the Conservation Act.”

Lands purchased with LWCA funds also require compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

The Sierra Club estimates 19 state parks are protected by the Conservation Act.
National Park Service spokesman Phil Sheridan says NPS will investigate the Sierra Club’s claims to determine if any of the state’s drilling activities are taking place on LWC funded lands. And if so, will work with state agencies on compliance.
For a more personal view of how drilling has impacted state parks, check out Harold Brubaker’s piece in Sunday’s Philadelphia Inquirer.

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