When you compare the amount public lands to the amount of hunters, Pennsylvania is in pretty bad shape. The state has the second most hunters and, according to a 1995 study from the National Wilderness Institute, it ranks 20th in amount of public lands.
Now, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is looking to make some quick cash off their state game lands by leasing them to natural gas companies, specifically State Game Lands 36 in Monroe and Overton Townships in Bradford County. The PGC says that not only do the benefit from increased revenue, “that well pad and pipeline construction can actually benefit wildlife in the long run. The initial excavation, construction and drilling processes are temporary habitat displacements. When the development enters the production stage, we’ve actually witnessed and photographed habitat improvements because well pads in production are meadow-like areas and pipelines provide a linear food supply,” according to Press Secretary Jerry Feaser.
Fracking is still a pretty risky business where natural resources are concerned, and many states, including New York, have banned the process to tap into the Marcellus shale.
“Generally speaking, we avoid sensitive areas when it comes to the natural gas development on state game lands,” Feaser said, according to TheReview.com. “We try to avoid aspects of unique habitats like wetlands and steep slopes. We take proactive steps to avoid development on sensitive habitat locations and minimize environmental factors. We are always looking at all the factors.”
Energy independence is a very important thing for our nation, but ignoring our hunting and fishing industries could be more detrimental to our nation’s economy and fabric of the country than some natural gas. –Brian McClintock
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