by Dan Glass
Governor Wolf recently signed an executive order placing a moratorium on new leasing for oil and gas drilling in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests. This action reinstates a 2010 moratorium on new leases of state lands that was established after agency review determined that no additional state forest acreage was suitable for natural gas development without compromising its natural character.
Joanne Kilgour, the Director of the Sierra Club PA Chapter stated, “Governor Wolf made a commitment during his campaign to protect our state parks and forests from new oil and gas leases, and today we thank him for following through on that promise. Our state lands are cherished places where families gather to hike and camp, where children learn to fish, and where the value of the natural world is celebrated. Through this executive action, Wolf upholds his duty as a public trustee to conserve and maintain these public natural resources for the benefit of all members of the Commonwealth.”
The Sierra Club has been an advocate for public lands since 1892. We at Keystone Trails Association look forward to our continued partnership with them as we continue to advocate for hikers and hiking trails throughout Pennsylvania.