Take Action: Corbett wants more gas development of public lands, tell your legislators to make moratorium law

We need your help. 

Last week, Governor Tom Corbett announced that he intends to undo a three-year-old moratorium on further gas leasing in state parks and state forests to fill a General Fund budget gap.

The lands are put into the public trust and we cannot simply sell their rights to the highest bidder for quick cash. 

Please tell your legislators to stand up for Pennsylvania’s natural heritage by co-sponsoring HB 950 or SB 540 — bills that would prohibit further exploitation of our public lands and make the current moratorium binding law as it applies to state forest lands. Click the Take Action button to tell Harrisburg not to balance the budget on the backs of our public lands.

TAKE ACTION

The Corbett administration says the new drilling under public lands will be "non-impact" drilling — because no new well pads will be constructed.

But "non-impact drilling" is a fallacy — even horizontal drilling without more well pads creates more air pollution, more truck traffic, more water withdrawals, and more toxic waste water.

And drilling just outside park or forest boundaries creates real risks for these public lands should spills or other accidents occur.

HB 950 and SB 540 would make the moratorium law, prohibiting any further leasing and potential harm to public lands.

Both bills need more cosponsors — and we need to build the pressure to get these bills called up for a vote.

Andrew Sharp is PennFuture's director of outreach and is based in our Philadelphia office.