Shale Gas Development on State Lands is “Neither Benign Nor Catastrophic,” Says the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – Studies Could Be Model For Other States

摘要

The production of energy from the Marcellus Shale formation, which runs under a good part of Pennsylvania, does have impacts on state-owned forest lands, but “so far they are manageable,” according to an initial assessment from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) entitled, Shale Gas Monitoring Report: April 2014. “Oftentimes, trends, or effects, are not evident for years or decades,” the agency explained. “Despite that, there are some findings that can be gleaned from this initial report. First and foremost is that shale-gas production on state forest lands is neither benign nor catastrophic. There are clearly impacts and tradeoffs associated with this activity. The question is what tradeoffs are acceptable. The [State] has to consider these tradeoffs and attempt to balance the various uses and values of the forest.”