How is
DCNR considering critical wildlife habitat?
Wildlife
habitat is protected through the implementation of the
multi-level management approach. In addition to excluded areas
and buffer systems, critical habitat areas such as wetlands,
rock outcroppings, and other unusual features will be protected.
The draft
District Forester Handbook of Guidelines for Oil and Gas
Exploration & Development on State Forest Lands contains
additional recommendations for protecting and enhancing wildlife
habitat.
What are
the potential impacts on state forest land from drilling activity
on adjacent private lands?
The impact of drilling on private lands adjacent to state
forest land could be substantial, as the majority of wells in
Pennsylvania will be drilled on private lands.
Most often leases
used on private lands are less stringent than the one used by DCNR
and have fewer environmental safeguards. The following are
specific impacts that may occur:
 |
Site preparation
(timber cleared and site leveled) |
|
Construction of
pits and berms for erosion and sedimentation control and fluid
retention |
|
Assembly of the
drill rig and attending machinery |
|
Initiation of the
drilling operation with three to four months as the projected
average duration |
|
Completion of
drilling operations and possible completion of the well as a
successful producer, or plugging of a “dry hole”
|
|
Placing the well
“on-line” for commercial production to market
|
|
Reclamation of
the attending well site surrounding the well |
Environmental Concerns
What if any
protections does Nockamixon have in the areas considered below ?
What
steps has DCNR taken to protect the environment relative to this
proposal?
DCNR has developed a multi-level approach for protecting the
environment when leasing state forest and park lands for oil and
natural gas exploration and development.
First-level
environmental safeguards involved the establishment of
“non-development” areas, such as state parks and state forest wild
and natural areas, where no surface activity is permitted. Buffer
zones have also been developed to protect areas of ecological,
recreational, and aesthetic importance, such as water bodies,
roads, trails, and buildings. Second-level safeguards are
site-specific, such as Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI)
searches and well spacing and road and pipeline construction
specifications. These specifications are contained in the
Oil and Gas Lease for State Forest and Park Lands and are
administered on the ground by the Bureau of Forestry’s District
Foresters. Refer to the Lease for specific environmental
constraints. Third-level environmental safeguards involve
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations—all
operators must comply with DEP laws and regulations. These laws
and regulations are solely administered by DEP.
Does Nockamixon
have the following kinds of protections ?
Why
hasn’t DCNR conducted an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)?
The federal government prepares environmental impact
statements according to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
An EIS is not a statutory requirement for agencies of the
Commonwealth, nor have we found any oil and gas-producing states
requiring one. Most
oil and gas-producing states conduct their own environmental
analysis that they use to evaluate oil and gas exploration and
development proposals. DCNR considered many of the same issues
normally addressed in an EIS, including potential environmental
impacts relating to forest fragmentation, water and air quality,
noise and light pollution, soil disturbance, and wildlife habitat.
DCNR also considered potential impacts relating to recreation,
aesthetics, public safety, and infrastructure, such as state
forest roads. DCNR is confident that the multi-level approach
outlined in number one above will protect the forest environment
on both state lands and surrounding private forest lands.