Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) voted in favor of a three-year moratorium on the lease of any additional state forest lands for natural gas drilling, pending studies on the impact of drilling activity. 

“We have to realize that the state forests are a Commonwealth asset – selling or leasing them out too cheaply because we need revenue to balance the budget today is not a prudent, long-term fiscal policy,” Harper said. “We also have a responsibility to measure the impact of drilling on sustainable timbering, hunting and fishing activity, clean air and clean water before we lease any more of these valuable public lands.” 

Natural gas drilling has been taking place in state forests for more than six decades; however, the type of drilling necessary to reach the deep Marcellus Shale reserves requires injecting millions of gallons of water together with a variety of chemicals into the ground to fracture the rock and allow for the release of natural gas.  

Currently, about 692,000 acres of state forest lands are under lease for natural gas drilling, and that drilling would continue under House Bill 2235. However, the bill calls on the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to conduct a comprehensive environmental impact review within two years to assess the impact of drilling on the forest ecosystem, forest uses and forest users.  

The bill also calls on the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study in year three of the moratorium to determine not only the environmental impacts but also economic and societal impacts of Marcellus drilling development on state lands. 

When the moratorium expires, the bill states that additional land will be leased only if DCNR determines, under its sole discretion, that the state forest can be sustained in a balanced state that preserves water and air quality, plant and animal habitats and the multiple ecosystems, recreational, social and aesthetic values. 

The bill passed the House 157-33; it now goes to the Senate for consideration. 

Rep. Kate Harper
61st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(610) 277-3230
(717) 787-2801
Member Site:  KateHarper.net
Contact: Patricia A. Hippler
House Republican Public Relations
(717) 772-9846
Caucus Site:  PAHouseGOP.com