GUEST COLUMN
We’ll work with all parties on ANFBy: Rep. Kathy Rapp Rep. Martin Causer Rep. Stan Saylor Rep. Matt Gabler
A recent article in the Times Observer referenced a letter sent by the Allegheny Defense Project (ADP) to Congressman Collin Peterson, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture.
The letter asserts that state and federal public officials have created panic and confusion over a proposed settlement agreement that would restrict private property rights and limit oil and gas drilling in the Allegheny National Forest (ANF).
As public officials, our job is to take a balanced approach on all issues that are important to our constituents. One of the ways we are able to make the best decisions possible to truly help our residents is by holding public policy hearings across the state on a variety of relevant topics.
The House Republican Policy Committee recently held one of these hearings in Warren on the impact of the proposed settlement agreement between the ANF and a coalition of environmental groups. The following week, the Warren Times Observer indicated in an article that the Allegheny National Forest Supervisors were not asked to provide testimony until the end of the meeting.
The House Republican Policy Committee did invite ANF officials to testify at the public hearing, but to our disappointment, the Supervisors declined. It is unfortunate that the ANF chose to turn down our invitation; we want to work with them to resolve the problems presented by the proposed settlement.
The proposed settlement agreement between the U.S. Forest Service and a group of environmentalists is a flagrant overreaching use of the federal government's authority. These actions will usurp the regulatory powers of Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection and restrict the rights of private landowners to access their property.
We realize that the problem is not the ANF officials in Warren, but rather the bureaucrats in Milwaukee and Washington D.C. Regrettably, the actions of these individuals are affecting our communities, our families, and the local economy. The proposed settlement has the potential to directly threaten the family-sustaining jobs of more than 1,500 area residents, as well as indirectly impact countless other individuals, their families and their children.
Pennsylvania has a vested interest in the issue and deserves proper oversight and input into the situation. As public officials, our job is to protect our communities and our children, preserve the integrity of the Allegheny National Forest and uphold the private property rights of our citizens. We cannot allow an egregious blunder by the U.S. Forest Service to have a detrimental impact on our families, our region and our forest.
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Jacksonian
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05-20-09 11:27 PM
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You see, here's the thing. I am absolutely not opposed to responsible drilling on the ANF. But I have seen plenty of irresponsible drilling that has damaged ANF resources. Laws and regulations are written for irresponsible behavior. It is unfortunately axiomatic that responsible people are inconvenienced, even penalized financially, by rules necessitated by irresponsible behavior. The oil and gas folks would like to be exempt from that. The dog and pony show at the Holiday Inn was a way for a handful of politicians to pander to a group that has traditionally been generous with campaign contributions.
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Jacksonian
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05-18-09 10:52 PM
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Does anybody remember the announcement that the meeting was going to be held, and the guest list? I think I commented that it was an obvious stacked deck. I just didn't realize at the time that it was a public hanging.
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