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by Thyra Sperry, President, KTA Board of Directors
The Old Loggers Path (OLP), a beautiful, remote loop trail which wanders around the plateau east of Rt. 14 and west of Rt 87 in Loyalsock State Forest, is in trouble.
A natural gas developer purchased the mineral rights under the entire trail, and has drawn up plans for developing the well-pads, roads and pipelines. Usually, mineral rights supersede surface rights — but the wording of the deed states otherwise in this case - something unique in Pennsylvania law.
DCNR’s predecessor, the Bureau of Forests & Waters, had purchased 18,870 acres of land in eastern Lycoming County in 1933. The owner of the land retained the mineral rights and put a clause in the deed that granted him access to the land for 50 years. That right of access expired in 1983. This was recently confirmed by Commonwealth Court, and it was determined that subsequent owners of the mineral rights, now Anadarko and IDC, inherited that restriction.
That land includes the headwater wetlands that drain into the exceptional value stream. That's where we follow the orange blazes of the Old Loggers Path as it wanders through the cool hemlocks of Loyalsock State Forest.
Click here for a map of the OLP. Mark an "X" at every topographic high and you'll have a pretty good idea where the prime locations of wellpads will be. You’ll be shocked.
Click here for photos of the affected area. Now you know what's at stake.
DCNR has the legal authority to control the surface of 18,870 acres in the area. Do your part: write to DCNR Secretary Rick Allan. Convince him that the OLP is worth saving and that his agency can do some creative bargaining with Anadarko, preserving the OLP, headwaters wetlands and unbroken interior forests which cover the top of this remote and wild area.
DCNR should schedule public meetings and solicit public input before making any deals regarding development of the area. Field staff should submit full environmental impact studies and they should be made public so we, the owners of Loyalsock State Forest, can determine what is at risk.
In the meantime, get outdoors and protect your favorite trail -- contact DCNR Secretary Richard Allen.
Thyra
The Old Loggers Path can be protected if you speak out, because DCNR has unique legal authority in these tracts.
Address correspondence to:
Richard J. Allan, Secretary
Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
Rachel Carson State Office Building
P.O. Box 8767
400 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8767
E-mail rjallan@pa.gov and CC ddevlin@state.pa.us |