Sierra opposes drilling at park

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.comLuzerne County Reporter

The Sierra Club’s Northeastern Pennsylvania chapter says Luzerne County Commissioners don’t have legal authority to allow natural gas drilling at county-owned Moon Lake Park in Plymouth Township.

Frank Muraca, who sits on the organization’s executive committee, said much of the park land was purchased with state and federal funds in the 1960s through a program known as the Project 70 Land Acquisition and Borrowing Act.

Lands acquired through the act must be used for recreation, conservation and historical purposes unless approval is granted by the General Assembly, according to the state’s Web site.

The governor and state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources must also approve alternate uses, Muraca said.

Muraca cited a 1967 deed for some of the Moon Lake property that says the county agreed to "unequivocally assert that this acquisition was to provide land for recreation, conservation, and historical purposes."

Muraca said he also found other legal and zoning stumbling blocks that would have to be met to allow drilling.

He recently presented the club’s findings to county minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban and plans to meet soon with all three commissioners.

"We’re on strong ground here," Muraca said. "We’ll bring our attorneys and meet with the commissioners and ask them to reconsider."

Urban said he can’t comment on Muraca’s assertions until he does his own research. He has said he is supportive of "responsible" drilling on county property to generate needed revenue.

County officials have been negotiating with EnCana Oil & Gas USA Inc. of Denver to drill at the park and tap lake water needed to help fracture rock to release gas.

County Chief Clerk/Manager Doug Pape said county commissioners would have to vote on any agreement. The drilling and water agreements would be separate, he said.

Commissioners closed the park and furloughed park employees last month, saying they could not justify non-essential expenses with a 15-percent property tax increase. Commissioners sought proposals from entities interested in operating the park at no expense to the county, but there were no takers. County officials say they are still negotiating with potential park operators.

Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla has said she is willing to consider any offer to generate revenue, as long as the park’s recreational atmosphere is not compromised. She also said she would not support any offers that would drain or pollute the lake.

Muraca said he has already publicly opposed a proposal to allow drilling at Lackawanna County’s Merli-Sarnoski Park, and commissioners there decided to scrap the option.

Commissioners are only in office for several years, while county parks must be protected for future generations, Muraca said.

In light of publicity about the Merli-Sarnoski Park, the Sierra Club’s Luzerne County members started asking for help at Moon Lake, he said.

"The only reason we jumped in so quick is because people have been calling us saying that Luzerne County Commissioners were going to vote on a lease," Muraca said.

The club has almost 1,200 members in the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre areas, he said. The club may consider taking legal action if necessary, Muraca said, though he hopes it doesn’t come to that. Sierra Club members will lobby the governor’s office and legislators to oppose drilling at Moon Lake, he said.

"We’re going to use all of our influence to try to stop this," Muraca said.

Muraca said commissioners must remember that Moon Lake is "the public’s land" and that commissioners are the parks "stewards."

"We have both state and county parks that are really the envy of other states, and some politicians want to open them up for short-term revenue gains, and that’s a travesty," he said. "Sometimes politicians don’t see it that way and think they can do whatever they want with the property."

The county purchased most of the Moon Lake property in 1965 and 1966 to be used for conservation, recreation and parks, according to news reports from the time. The state kicked in 50 percent of some of the land purchase, while the federal government covered 30 percent, articles say.