by Shanna Klucar, Program Administrator
The Clarence Moore lands of the Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County, are 25,621 acres of “split estate” lands in which the surface rights are owned by the Commonwealth and the oil and gas rights are owned by 2 private parties: Anadarko and the International Development Corporation (IDC). These lands have become controversial because Anadarko wants to drill gas wells and build compressor stations, water impoundments, pipelines, and new roads on them. Because of the ecological sensitivity and recreational assets of the Clarence Moore lands, the Save the Loyalsock Coalition wants the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to use its substantial powers to prevent or minimize surface activities.
As KTA’s representative on the Save the Loyalsock Coalition, I—along with representatives from the Pennsylvania Forest Coalition, the Sierra Club, PennFuture, and the Responsible Drilling Alliance—met with DCNR Acting Secretary Cindy Dunn and other DCNR officials on March 26 to review the status of the Clarence Moore lands.
Although Acting Secretary Dunn reported that there was little additional news concerning the Clarence Moore lands, she did confirm that Governor Tom Wolf knew of the Clarence Moore lands issue.
We discussed the yellow and blue tracts in the Clarence Moore lands. In the yellow tracts, the DCNR has exclusive control of the surface; in the blue tracts, Anadarko has the right to use the surface to extract oil and gas.
In addition, we discussed the Proctor Trust claims to mineral rights. A group representing the descendants of a 19th-century lumber baron, the Proctor Trust is claiming most of the mineral rights in an area of the Loyalsock State Forest where controversial plans exist to expand natural gas drilling. The Proctor Trust’s claim is a direct challenge to Anadarko and the IDC, who say they own the rights and have already submitted development plans to the Commonwealth.
We also discussed potential methane impacts on surface and groundwater, as well as the productivity of the area in terms of natural gas development. Included in the conversation were endangered species, erosion impacts from tree clearing, and how the current low natural gas prices might affect the timing of natural gas development in the area.
We talked about the letter sent by the Coalition to former DCNR Acting Secretary Ellen Ferretti concerning the DCNR’s July 2014 announcement of a 15-day public comment period upon announcement of a new Surface Development Management Agreement. Per the Coalition’s request, Acting Secretary Dunn indicated that the DCNR is willing to consider a longer public comment period. She also mentioned that the Forest Management Plan will be presented later this year and that related public meetings will be held in September.
Finally, on April 2, I traveled to the Loyalsock State Forest with Dick Martin (Pennsylvania Forest Coalition and KTA Life Member) and Thyra Sperry (former KTA President) to see firsthand the current status of gas development in the Clarence Moore lands and near the Old Loggers Path. Snow and ice blocked our passage on some of the forest roads, but we were able to visit a number of pad sites. For anyone wanting to see what we are trying to protect—and why we are trying to protect it—I encourage you to plan a visit to the Loyalsock State Forest this summer. You’re welcome to use this “driving tour” handout from 2013 (we’ll share it as soon as it’s updated).