Some Pennsylvania Parks Could Become Marcellus Shale Drilling Sites

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) manages and maintains close to 120 state parks.  However, Pennsylvania does not own the mineral rights to 80 percent of the land underlying the parks, opening it up to the possibility of the private owners entering into Marcellus Shale lease agreements with gas companies.

Oil and gas companies have already drilled a limited number of wells in some of the state park land in western Pennsylvania.  DCNR cannot impose surface-use agreements on the drilling companies to govern their impact on the surface of the parks, due to a 2009 ruling by the Supreme Court,  and some fear the increased interest in Marcellus Shale in the parks could result in damage to the landscape.

DCNR Secretary John Quigley says that while the threat to the parks is not immediate, “there are a dozen or fewer parks where drillers or seismic testing firms have expressed interest in accessing the surface to get to the Marcellus Shale.”

The DCNR estimates that over half of the state parks are sitting atop the Marcellus Shale.

Natural gas drilling can scar the landscape.  If you are a property owner whose property has been harmed by natural gas exploration, you should talk to the attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys.  We represent property owners and victims of Marcellus Gas drilling issues, including those who have suffered personal injury and those who have been harmed through the loss of enjoyment of their property. Contact us by submitting a free online claim evaluation.