Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) is joining fellow lawmakers and environmental advocates in calling on the governor to stop leasing state forest lands to natural gas drillers.

To watch the state capitol press conference, click here.

“The state constitution names us as stewards of clean air and pure water for our citizens, and state forests help us protect those resources,” Harper said. “When the majority of lawmakers agreed to lease an unlimited number of acres of forest land as part of last year’s budget without regard to the impact on our environment, we failed to live up to our constitutional obligation to manage our forests sustainably.”

Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution states: “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”

The 2009-10 state budget called for leasing enough state forest lands to generate $60 million in revenues. The 2010-11 proposal calls for leasing additional land to generate $180 million. This year’s lease of about 32,000 acres of forest brought in $128 million.

“No amount of money is worth sacrificing our clean air and clean water,” Harper said.

The lawmaker also pointed out that public lands are not the only places with natural gas reserves underneath.

“I do not believe the state should be competing with private land owners who could benefit financially from leasing their own properties,” she said.

Harper is a co-sponsor of legislation introduced by Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) that would place a five-year moratorium on the leasing of state forest lands to fully study the environmental impacts of drilling. House Bill 2235 was referred to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Rep. Kate Harper

61st District

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

(610) 277-3230

(717) 787-2801

Member Site:  KateHarper.net

Contact: Patricia A. Hippler

House Republican Public Relations

(717) 772-9846

Caucus Site:  PAHouseGOP.com