A moratorium on new leases for oil and gas developments in parks and forests has been reinstated in Pennsylvania.
Governor Tom Wolf said the moratorium was about “striking the right balance” between development and environment.
The executive order move was made after Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) concluded that additional leasing could jeopardise the ability to maintain gold-standard forest certification.
Governor Wolf said: “Natural gas development is vital to Pennsylvania’s economy, but so is the economic and environmental viability of our parks and forests.
“This is about striking the right balance. Our state parks and forests are unique assets that should be preserved, protected, and utilized by our residents for recreational purposes.
“Our parks host 38 million visitors annually, support over 13,000 jobs, and provide $1.2 billion to the state’s economy.
“We should be looking for opportunities to grow our recreational and tourism economy through a revitalized parks and forest system that ensures we are preserving our natural resources and protecting our people and the environment.”
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