Head Of State Parks Is Leaving His Post

October 4, 2012 | 2:00 PM

The Patriot-News has details on a major shakeup at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: John Norbeck, who runs state parks, is unexpectedly stepping down.

StateImpact Pennsylvania will have more details on Norbeck’s depature and other changes at DCNR later today. Here’s what Don Gilliland is reporting:

Under Norbeck’s leadership, the state parks increased visitation and won a gold medal national award for being the best-managed park system in the United States.

Before coming to Pennsylvania in 2006, Norbeck had spent nearly 30 years in the Maryland state parks system.

Environmentalists and advocates for the state parks fear Norbeck’s abrupt departure could be a sign that the Corbett administration is preparing to open the park gates to drilling rigs to tap natural gas under the Commonwealth’s popular park system; Norbeck is known to be an opponent of drilling in the state parks.