Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf to sign order barring drilling of new oil, gas wells in state forests, parks

[Divernan]

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Gov. Tom Wolf is set to sign an executive order reinstating a moratorium on new leases for oil and gas drilling under state-owned forests and parks, according to his office.

The order arises in Wolf's second week in office and reverses an executive order issued by former Gov. Tom Corbett in 2014 that ended a blanket ban on drilling leases. The Corbett administration had agreed to delay new leasing until a legal challenge to his plan was resolved. A Commonwealth Court decision this month opened the door for the state to proceed with the plan to expand drilling in forests and parks.

Drilling and fracking critics including the Sierra Club and PennFuture cheered the announcement as a campaign promise fulfilled and a public health and environmental safeguard.

“There's broad public support to keep fracking out of our state parks and forests, (and) during the campaign Governor Wolf made a commitment to prevent new leasing of our public lands, and we're pleased to see him follow through on that commitment,” said Joanne Kilgour, director of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Sierra Club.



Read more: http://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/7661139-74/state-drilling-gas#ixzz3QCcpjg7K

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Hot damn! A Democratic candidate KEEPS his campaign promises and does so in less than a month! Other promises he immediately fulfilled upon taking office were: (1) to ban all state employees in his administration from accepting gifts and (2) banning no-bid contracts (a big problem in PA).

Although anyone would look good compared to newly ex-governor Tom Corbett, Pennsylvania Governor Wolf is just outstanding. All the regular folks I deal with in various civic organizations are delighted about and excited by Pennsylvania's new Democratic governor.

He's also chosen to remain in his own home, rather than move into the ostentatious governor's mansion. His home is about a 30 minute commute from the Capitol and all the administrative agencies' headquarters. Corbett used to commute across the state to his home in suburban Pittsburgh for 3 day weekend - which meant that if any emergency/disaster occurred requiring a state response, Corbett was a 4.5 hour drive away. Wolf is in the capitol 24/7.

[Cha]

1. Mahalo Tom Wolf.. from Hawaii.. thanks Divernan

[freshwest]

2. DU is refusing to let me rec this thread, so I'm doing it here.

[riqster]

3. Once again, we see that Repubs and Dems are exactly the same...

[groundloop]

8. Exactly - so why bother voting?

(More )

[riqster]

13. Voting? I'd rather sit around and whine instead.

[livetohike]

4. Proud to have him as our Governor. There's so much to undo from the mess Corbett

created.

[grntuscarora]

5. Fantastic news!!

Thank you, Governor Wolf!!

[TRoN33]

6. This is the proof that economy haven't took a hit in first 24 hours after Wolf's....

Decisions. Stock market for PA is already going up, national and state parks camping grounds are being reserved at ahead of its time.

Wolf is already showing more competent governorship and he is showing a lot of potential. Democrats in PA are feeling more energized and more hopeful of future.

This, my fellow DUers, is the proof that Democrats should've embraced Obama and show more appreciation for him in 2014 midterm elections.

[Petrushka]

7. Meanwhile, 67.7 miles to the SW of Pittsburgh PA . . .

. . . politicos in the city of Moundsville and the State of West Virginia are drooling and looking forward to the day when drilling begins under the Ohio River.

[Panich52]

20. Who cares if fracking quake drains or changes Ohio's course?

WV leg also's trying to weaken the already too weak storage tank regs. And the idiots who voted them in are same who bitched to high heaven about the Freedom Ind spill.

[Petrushka]

21. Public meeting scheduled in Wheeling WV re: fracking under the Ohio River . . .

http://www.wtrf.com/story/27985019/wheeling-jesuit-university-to-hold-public-discussion-on-ohio-river-fracking

[HappyMe]

9. Good!

This guy hit the ground running.

[Aldo Leopold]

10. Happy to see this!

I'm beginning to feel good about our state again

[Divernan]

11. If he can just hang onto enough Democrats to sustain legislative vetos.

Because the frackers are equal opportunity bribers when it comes to campaign "donations". We PA Dems will have to keep the pressure up on all our state senators and representatives, and particularly the Democratic ones. I suggest we call or email them today and relay our enthusiasm for Governor Wolf's actions. And we can include the suggestion that the legislature follow Governor Wolf's example in outlawing gifts.

[malthaussen]

12. The first time I read this, I thought it said he'd signed it.

I guess I'm just not used to this trend towards announcing things before they become accomplished fact. I frankly don't see the point of it.

-- Mal

[Divernan]

14. He's signing it this morning.

This is not some vague announcement like when Hillary says she'll make a decision in 6 months. The announcement was released just hours before the planned ceremony.

[malthaussen]

15. Ah, so the advance announcement was so everyone could get his photo op

That clears that up.

-- Mal

[Divernan]

16. Wolf has promised transparency, not super secret signing ceremonies.

You seem determined to take a negative and cynical slant to what is a fantastic improvement for Pennsylvania's environment & public health. Celebrations are in order! This story should get all the publicity possible to shine the spotlight on and put pressure on other states' governors who are bending over to Big Fracking. Or are you pro-fracking, by any chance?

PA's former governor made all kinds of back room deals with Big Fracking companies in exchange for financial support. The last thing Corbett or Big Frackers wanted were photo ops.

[malthaussen]

17. No

My negativism and cynicism are about the continual circus-ification of government at all levels. It's gotten to the point where we have advance announcements that an announcement is going to be made. Of course, it isn't just government, we even have previews of commercials these days. The concern for spin and advertising is becoming more and more dominant in our culture every day.

I'm not in favor of "signing ceremonies" in general, since they add to the idea of administrator as media star. IIRC, Abe Lincoln held no "ceremony" when he enacted the Emancipation Proclamation, which was arguably a more important Executive Order than the one under discussion. At any rate, there is an increasing tendency to Prue-advertise measures that are sometimes found not to be implemented at all -- possibly to serve as trial balloons which will inflate or deflate quickly due to media reaction (I don't say "public reaction," because the public is rarely consulted -- or regarded -- in relation to most matters). I don't know about you, but I am always relieved when the government actually follows through on measures that serve to promote the public good rather than fill the purses of the rich. But I am skeptical until something is actually done -- talk is cheap.

-- Mal

[Divernan]

18. You make valid points, but Wolf is not doing this.

And let us not be luddites about this. A comparison with Lincoln is totally invalid, given the lack of communication in his day.

You say circus-ification; I say transparency. You say administrator as media star; I say chief executive as the public face and voice of a political unit.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

19. No dummy, that Tom Wolf. Plus he sees the big picture.

Or maybe he just gives a fuck about our survival.

[Petrushka]

22. K & R