Drill-a-palooza: In state forests, keep Marcellus to a minimum
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It's a little early to talk about more gas drilling in Pennsylvania's forests. Yet that's exactly what the head of the state Department of Community and Economic Development is doing.
Secretary Alan Walker said last week that Pennsylvania can reap $60 billion over the next 30 years by drilling for Marcellus Shale gas under state forests, precious natural resources prized by sportsmen, outdoors enthusiasts and a huge tourist economy.
But why should it?
Pennsylvania already has 700,000 acres of state forests open for drilling, and it was only a year ago that another state agency, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, warned that no additional leasing on the publicly owned lands "can occur without significantly altering the ecological integrity and wild character of our state forest system."
Sure, as Mr. Walker says, the $60 billion can go a long way toward solving the state's financial problems. So would leasing space for a nuclear power plant in Point State Park. So would drilling for oil along Presque Isle. But reasonable Pennsylvanians won't go there.
Corbett administration officials should seek a more sensible revenue stream from the Marcellus boom, one routinely enjoyed by other states: a severance tax on drilling. And leave our state forests alone.
First Published August 21, 2011 12:00 am
