DCNR

Governor Wolf Signs Executive Order Reinstating Moratorium On New Leases For Oil and Gas Development In State Parks and Forests

Posted on January 30, 2015

On January 29, 2015, Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order reinstating a moratorium on new leases for oil and gas development in state parks and forests. At an event in Benjamin Rush State Park, Governor Wolf signed the executive order with members of the General Assembly in attendance.

“Natural gas development is vital to Pennsylvania’s economy, but so is the economic and environmental viability of our parks and forests,” said Governor Wolf. “This is about striking the right balance. Our state parks and forests are unique assets that should be preserved, protected, and utilized by our residents for recreational purposes.”

Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has concluded that additional leasing jeopardizes the agency’s ability to sustain the commonwealth’s gold-standard forest certification, which is vital the economic and environmental well-being of the state’s parks and forests. The executive order states that effective immediately, DCNR is directed to protect the lands of the Commonwealth that are held in trust for its citizens and for future generations, and subject to future advice and recommendations made by DCNR, no State Park and State Forest lands owned and/or managed by DCNR shall be leased for oil and gas development.

Statement by Andrew M. Loza, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association

Posted on January 15, 2015

January 15, 2015

Governor-elect Tom Wolf selected for his chief of staff and secretary of planning and policy, two former DEP secretaries—two individuals who care deeply about the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land that we sleep, work and play on. Now, we learn that he will appoint John Quigley and Cindy Dunn as secretary of environmental protection and secretary of conservation and natural resources, respectively. Extraordinarily excellent choices.

John Quigley in his tenure as secretary of conservation and natural resources at the tail end of the Rendell Administration was candid and outspoken in addressing the threats that natural gas operations present to our publicly owned state forests; during his past four years in the private sector, he has both carefully analyzed the impacts of natural gas development and dedicated substantial energy to identifying pathways to protect the integrity of the land, water and air that we share. Cindy Dunn, in her past capacities with PennFuture, the state and the Audubon Society, has consistently been a thoughtful and consistent advocate for the protection of our common resources and the public health.

With these personnel decisions, the governor-elect is demonstrating, out of the gate, an outstanding commitment to the protection of our Commonwealth.

When a family loses their drinking water because of mining or gas development, they have reason to be upset and angry. When a community’s air is degraded by industrial emissions, it has a right to demand protection under the law. It’s understandable that those most negatively impacted would ask the Governor, the General Assembly and the courts for justice. It’s right that they ask the public to support them in their time of need.

It is understandably maddening to have such need and understandable to assertively seek redress. However, no matter where one stands regarding natural gas development and acceptable levels of community impacts, consider this: Governor-elect Tom Wolf is making good appointments. Even if you disagree with his positions on natural gas, take the time to acknowledge positive steps. Celebrate that he has chosen people with a demonstrated commitment to the protection of public health and natural resources. Show that, although you will make heavy demands of him in the coming months, you aren’t unreasonable—that you will acknowledge good steps when they are taken.

And keep in mind the words of Otto von Bismarck, the renowned statesman and First Chancellor of Germany: “Politics is the art of the possible.” Whether a profound observation or a trite remark, the words hold true 148 year later. The governor-elect and his appointees have to work in the world of politics. They have to work in a Pennsylvania where the vast majority of the public supports natural gas development. They have to work with huge Republican majorities in the Pennsylvania House and Senate that stalwartly support the natural gas industry. They have to work within the boundaries of the law as policed by the courts, a body of law that is supportive of gas development.

This is the reality for any appointee—no matter their experience and commitment. Fortunately, the governor-elect has started with individuals with substantial experience and commitment.

HB2013 Defeated

Posted on July 6, 2016

On June 28, 2016, the House voted 123 to 77 to defeat House Bill 2013 (Ellis-R-Butler) which would have opened Pennsylvania’s State Parks to private development. A procedural motion to reconsider the vote by which the bill was defeated was filed. A new vote would be required to bring the bill up for consideration again before the House, but since the legislative body has recessed for the summer no reconsideration of the bill is imminent.

Click Here for a roll call vote to see how your House member voted.

http://conservationadvocate.org/oppose-hb-2013-whether-not-amended/

http://conservationadvocate.org/oppose-hb-2013-whether-not-amended-2/

Oppose HB 2013–whether or not amended

Posted on June 28, 2016

PALTA Letter sent to House on 6/28/2016:

Dear Representative:

House Bill 2013, even as amended, remains bad public policy.

If the bill called on DCNR to undertake a study of the needs of Pennsylvanians and how the state might better meet those needs considering the experiences of other states, then that would make sense as a way to boost focus on the issues. However, the bill doesn’t do this; instead, it pursues a narrow agenda of promoting “hotels, inns, restaurants, amusement or water parks, outdoor sports facilities, golf courses,” etc.

On behalf of the 75 member organizations of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association and the 120,000 Pennsylvanians they count as members, I request your opposition to House Bill 2013—even as amended. Pennsylvania’s land trusts, having donated or bargain-sold numerous parcels of land to the Commonwealth for the creation and expansion of State Parks, want the state to build on its award-winning track record of responsibly managing the State Park system. HB 2013 is not a viable path forward.

DCNR through its recently completed State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan entertained robust discussions and recommendations on how parks may better serve Pennsylvanians. If members of the General Assembly feel that valuable perspectives were missed, then it’s appropriate to broaden the conversation and initiate new explorations on how State Parks may better serve Pennsylvanians. Existing channels, such as DCNR’s advisory committees and the joint legislative committee, seem like appropriate starting points.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Andrew M. Loza

Executive Director

Andrew M. Loza, Executive Director

Pennsylvania Land Trust Association

[email protected]

717-230-8560

PALTA Opposes HB2013–Whether or Not Amended

Posted on June 23, 2016

PALTA delivered the following letter to state representatives on June 23, 2016, regarding HB 2013

Dear State Representatives,

On behalf of the 75 member organizations of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, I write to request your opposition to House Bill 2013—whether or not amended. Pennsylvania’s land trusts, having donated or bargain-sold numerous parcels of land to the Commonwealth for the creation and expansion of State Parks, want the state to build on its award-winning track record of responsibly managing the State Park system. HB 2013 is not a viable path forward.

The bill’s co-sponsorship memo describes the bill as allowing DCNR “to enter in public-private partnerships to provide additional recreational activities in Pennsylvania state parks.” All well and good, except DCNR already responsibly pursues public-private partnerships, having 138 private concessionaires and working with more than 50 volunteer-based friends groups.

The legislation also:

Disregards the state’s national award-winning recreation plan and its attendant public opinion surveys, which found that what the public wants most in the way of new park infrastructure is more rental cabins, bike lanes, and natural and wild areas.
Sidesteps DCNR’s award-winning professional park leadership, who have extensive experience with public-private partnerships—managing, and understanding what arrangements are most likely to succeed in the long-term.
Creates a new government entity that, due to its makeup, will have substantial leverage over park decisions; yet, it will have no responsibility to ensure that projects are consistent with long-term park plans and won’t become huge burdens on taxpayers after 25 years.
Does nothing to guard against repeating the costly mistakes of other states—resort-like developments in state parks have a history of failure.
Places new financial burdens on DCNR without providing new revenue to cover these expenses.
Puts narrow private interests ahead of the Constitutional rights of Pennsylvanians. Article I of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the same article that provides for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms, states that:

Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.

The bill’s call for office buildings is not consistent with the Commonwealth’s constitutional obligation to act as trustee of the Parks. Likewise for the bill’s failure to establish factors to consider in evaluating proposals.

Finally, this bill places the public sector in direct competition with the private sector, which already manages more than 100 resorts in the state. There is no reason that the public sector needs to play favorites—to provide select private entities with public lands for their development pursuits, public lands that other private entities have not needed to establish successful ventures–especially with so many quality private recreational facilities here in Pennsylvania.

On behalf of the 75 member organizations of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association and the 120,000 Pennsylvanians they count as members, thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Andrew M. Loza
Executive Director