Lost & Found In The Loyalsock

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation stake on Sullivan Mountain.

A map of Anadarko's planned well pad site.

Responsible Drilling Alliance got lost in the Loyalsock State Forest this week and found a secret well pad site. Happy accident? Perhaps not for Anadarko, who last week told PA House Representative Garth Everett they had "no concrete plans to develop Clarence Moore right now."

Clarence Moore is the tract of land encompassing portions of Rock Run, Old Loggers Path, Masten Ghost Town, and other beloved areas of the Loyalsock State Forest. RDA launched the Keep It Wild campaign earlier this month to pressure DCNR & Anadarko to leave the sensitive area undeveloped. Despite public outcry, Anadarko's intentions to move forward with development are clear.


Anadarko picked a discreet place for their future well pad. It's on the Crandall Town Trail, an offshoot of Old Loggers Path. Despite marshy conditions, Anadarko chose a patch of forest on the broad, flat top of Sullivan Mountain.

Anadarko's proposed site will be built on marshy ground.

Anadarko's planned well pad is between two headwaters, Buck Run that feeds into Rock Run, and an unnamed stream that feeds into Pleasant Stream. Doe Roe is another vulnerable Sullivan Mountain stream with headwaters in Anadarko's bulls eye zone. The snapshot below shows how streams begin in this ecologically sensitive area.

Doe Run headwaters

As evidenced by the pink ribbons tied on tree branches adjacent to the stream, the Doe Run area is a sensitive wetland.

However, the wetland delineation (indicated by the pink ribbons on either side of the stream) seems a bit narrow:

Pink ribbons on either side of Doe Run delineate the wetland.

The well pad stakes aren't the only evidence of the gas industry's footprint on Sullivan Mountain. Seismic flagging litters the forest floor and the dirt road is torn up from heavy traffic.

Road damage on Sullivan Mountain.

 Still, RDA's hike on Sullivan Mountain wasn't all bad news. We saw a snake, a turkey vulture, two does, and lots of bear droppings.

The clock is ticking for the Loyalsock State Forest, and Anadarko isn't wasting any time. Responsible Drilling Alliance will continue to say, "Not here, not now."

Please join us in support of this wild wonder by telling DCNR, Anadarko, and your local newspaper to "Keep It Wild."


by Morgan Myers
RDA Communications & Outreach

DCNR & Environmental Review

by Robert “Butch” Davey

Former district forester, Sproul State Forest

On DCNR and Public Comment

To the best of my knowledge the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has yet to conduct a public meeting where statements are recorded under oath. However DCNR has conducted many public informational meetings.

The Bureau of Forestry (B of F) conducts public informational meetings when Forest Resource Plans are revised every 15 years. These type of meetings are done when policies and procedures within the Bureau of Forestry mandate are updated. Usually the attendees can ask questions and make statements. The main purpose of such meetings is informative rather than to seek input from citizens.

On the Environmental Review Process

The Environmental Review which DCNR B of F uses is not an environmental impact statement which examines various alternatives including no change. The environmental review is an internal document consisting of 20 or so items which are addressed as to the environmental effect, good or bad, of the proposed project. The environmental review can be prepared by Forest District personnel or a company requesting a project or activity occurring on State Forest land. The document is submitted to the central office of the B of F for review. Each of the division chiefs prepares comments or signs off on the review without comment. This is not a document of choices and alternatives but rather a document concerning a proposed project. Unless the procedure has changed the public is not involved. The environmental review should be available to the public.

On Protecting Threatened and Endangered Species

The Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) is a historical compilation of data and locations of species of flora and fauna of special concern. When a project is being planned the PNDI records are searched in the Harrisburg Central office for the area where the project is proposed to determine if a species of concern will be affected. This is determined to be a “hit”. The information on the species being harmed is kept confidential. This is done to keep collectors from disturbing the species of concern.

For instance, in North Central Pennsylvania the Allegheny Wood Rat (Neotomia magister) is a species of concern. The habitat and population of this rodent has diminished. The Allegheny wood rat is listed as a threatened species and has been proposed as a candidate for the federal endangered species list. There are several web sites with more and better information on PNDI.

On Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Prevention

In Pennsylvania all earth-moving activities require a written accelerated soil erosion and sedimentation prevention plan (E&S). For most earth-moving activities the county Conservation District staff reviews the plans for completeness and adequacy to prevent accelerated soil erosion and sedimentation. A letter to this affect is sent to the earth mover by the Conservation District. The major exception to this procedure is the oil and gas industry. The Department of Environmental Protection ((DEP) Bureau of Oil and Gas has been tasked with the review for all gas drilling permits. This policy change was the result of oil and gas operators being slowed down in their zeal to have permit applications processed pronto. The average time DEP spends on reviewing an E&S for a gas well site is reported to be 25 minutes.

If 20 acres or more of earth disturbance is planned a full-scale earth disturbance permit is required. This is a much more detailed plan and requires more information and review.

From the information it appears that the watersheds in the Rock Run section of the Loyalsock State Forest are high quality and exceptional value. These are streams with the highest quality water and the least human and industrial activity and pollution.  It is crucial to protect these valuable water courses.     

Robert "Butch" Davey is a former district forester of Sproul State Forest and worked for the Bureau of Forestry for over 40 years. Davey is also on the board of directors of Keystone Trails Association.

Podcast: Garth Everett On Rock Run

PA House Representative Garth Everett discusses DCNR, Anadarko, and Rock Run at the Lycoming Creek Watershed Association meeting. Podcast available here.

Footage From Keep It Wild

RDA Presdient Ralph Kisberg gives a general run-down of the situation in the Loyalsock State Forest near Ralston.

PennFuture staff attorney and RDA Board Member Mark Szybist explains the legal background behind Anadarko's purchase of mineral rights in the Clarence Moore tract.

Armstrong Township Supervisor and Lycoming County Planning Commission member Jim Dunn speaks about community identity and special places.

Restoration Ecologist and RDA member Kevin Heatley explains the landscape impacts of industrial development.

Part One

Part Two

Local business owner and RDA Board Member Barb Jarmoska outlines what steps we can take to protect the Rock Run region.

Rock Run Concerns Continue

Some of the meeting's attendees.

by Morgan Myers

Communications and Outreach Director

TROUT RUN - The Lycoming Creek Watershed
Association held a meeting Tuesday to voice concerns about Anadarko's purchase of mineral rights in the Clarence Moore tract. The acreage in question includes the Exceptional Value Rock Run, the Devils Elbow Natural Area, a 27-mile circular hiking trail known as Old Loggers Path, the Masten Ghost Town and lands that drain into headwaters of Pleasant Stream, Slacks Run, Salt Run, Wallis Run, and Mill Creek.

"Trust me, I understand your concerns," said PA State Rep. Garth Everett at the meeting. "I agree this is a sensitive and beautiful area."

Garth Everett PA State Rep, 84th Dist.

Anadarko and DCNR declined invitations to attend, but Representative Everett relayed their public point of view.

"I sat down with Anadarko. Anadarko feels they have the right to the Clarence Moore tract, but at this time they're quite busy just keeping up with the leases they already have," said Everett. "They have no concrete plans to develop Clarence Moore right now."

Everett recapped a conversation he had earlier that day with DCNR Secretary Richard Allan. "He was very aware of the situation. [Secretary Allan] said there's a lot of heat being generated, but right now there's been no application by Anadarko to DCNR to do any development in the Clarence Moore tract."

Everett went on to add that "the court of public opinion" may be the reason why Anadarko has not yet submitted an application to DCNR.

"Anadarko, in my experience, has been a good company. They're here to drill gas and make money, but they like to say they're good corporate citizens," said Everett. "That doesn't mean a truck won't fall over that has chemicals in it on Pleasant Stream Road or Rock Run Road. That's the danger: the accidental, not the intentional."

Jason Detar Fish and Boat Commission

Jason Detar, Fish and Boat Commission's North Central Fisheries Manager, spoke about the importance of protective regulation for streams that support native fish.

"Pleasant Stream and Rock Run both support wild trout populations," said Detar. "Any wetlands associated with streams essential to the natural reproduction of wild trout get upgraded to 'Exceptional Value' status. Those wetlands receive maximum protection because of their importance in maintaining water quality in the streams themselves."

However, a wetland's "Exceptional Value" designation does not guarantee it won't be developed.

"We have a proactive role and a reactive role," said Detar. "From a proactive standpoint, we can go out and assess our resources so that we can provide as much protection to them as the regulations allow. From a reactive standpoint, we can provide comment on permits to DEP."

Whether DEP heeds Fish & Boat Commission advice when making permit decisions is beyond the latter's authority.

"There's a basic conflict because any company is going to want to optimize their resource area," said RDA President Ralph Kisberg. "That means a certain perfect placement of well pads and laterals. So the question is: what will DCNR let [Anadarko] get away with?"

Ralph Kisberg Responsible Drilling Alliance

"Anadarko owns their half of these rights in perpetuity; What's the big hurry?" said Kisberg. "Maybe in the future they'll be able to run laterals from private land without disturbing the surface at all."

As for the present, many remain concerned about the cultural and environmental degradation posed by the possibility of Clarence Moore tract development. Responsible Drilling Alliance, along with environmental organizations across the state, have asked DCNR and Anadarko to include the public in any conversations about Clarence Moore. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

Over 2,600 e-mails have been written to DCNR Secretary Allan so far. We must keep the momentum going. Please help Keep It Wild in the Loyalsock State Forest by the taking action described below.

You Can Help Keep It Wild!

In many places in PA – in fields and forests, parks and pastures – there is little or nothing we can do to stop the industrialization by the natural gas industry that is rapidly changing the culture and character of our PA lifestyle. This fact makes it all the more important to try and save a few precious natural areas of the PA Wilds for our grandchildren to experience. Will you help?

The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has the legal power to keep the drilling rigs out of a beautiful section of the Loyalsock State Forest in northeast Lycoming County by refusing to sign a surface-use agreement. By virtue of the deeds, DCNR is in a unique legal position to protect 18,870 acres from development by not allowing Anadarko Petroleum, owner of the mineral rights on 6,841 acres, to develop this unique and remote forestland. The acreage in question includes the headwaters of the Exceptional Value Rock Run, the Devils Elbow Natural Area, a 27-mile circular hiking trail known as Old Loggers Path, the Masten Ghost Town and lands that drain into Pleasant Stream, Slacks Run, Salt Run, Wallis Run, and Mill Creek.

Please consider writing a personal letter to DCNR Secretary Richard Allan. Keep your letter factual, making it clear that you understand the situation and choosing 1 or 2 of the talking points below.  Please blend those with your personal experiences of hunting, hiking, swimming, picnicking, and/or and fishing in the area.

Here are some things to consider when you write:

ñ    Given the ecological sensitivity and recreational significance of this area of the Loyalsock State Forest , any gas extraction or transmission operations in the forest would immediately and permanently impair pristine areas containing Exceptional Value streams and wetlands.

ñ    The Rock Run / Masten / Old Loggers Path area is both sensitive and unique and should be protected, not exploited.

ñ    Our state forests are a public resource and the public must be involved in the decision.

ñ    DCNR must immediately publish maps showing the precise location of the 18,870-acre and 6,841-acre parcels in the Loyalsock State Forest and post the maps for public view on the DCNR website.

ñ    DCNR may not grant a right-of-way unless it ensures that the surface will be protected. That mandates thorough environmental impact studies before granting any rights-of-way. Remember: “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”.

ñ    DCNR must be transparent, publishing all of the environmental impact studies related to the Rock Run headwaters / Old Loggers Path / Masten area development.

ñ    DCNR must hold public meetings on the issue to afford the stakeholders a meaningful opportunity to participate in DCNR’s decision-making.

ñ    Before making any final development decisions, public meetings should be combined with an explanation of the alternative development options, including “no action”.

ñ    For those who cannot attend public meetings, there should be a 60-day public comment Period.

ñ    Anadarko should have the opportunity to present their development plans to the public.

ñ    Anadarko will request rights-of-way across some of DCNR’s 18,870-acres in order to access portions of their 6,841-acres. DCNR should be transparent regarding this by posting the maps on its public web site.

ñ    DCNR is legally obligated to exercise the unique control granted in the deeds in the best interests of the owners of this land: PA residents. 

ñ    Unconventional natural gas development will take place over the next century; there is no rush to exploit every area.

ñ    Future technological development will undoubtedly result in better cementing, fewer accidents and longer laterals. These are all good reasons to be slow and deliberate in approving all natural gas development.

ñ    DCNR must consider all options for managing these exceptional areas. This is a forest owned by the public – not just a cash cow for exploitation.

ñ    Under Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, DCNR has a legal duty to conserve and maintain State Forest lands for the benefit of all Pennsylvanians, including future generations.

ñ    The public resources at stake are the very heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The public’s ecological, recreational, and economic interest in them is simply too important for decisions to be made without input from the public and sound science to document species at risk and harm to the environment.

Please write today, keeping in mind that a letter trumps an email. This may sound a bit old-fashioned, but your letter can’t be deleted with one keystroke. A letter is already a hard copy.

Address your correspondence to:
Richard J. Allan, Secretary
Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
P.O. Box 8767
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8767

Secretary Allan's email is: rjallan@pa.gov

Please send a copy of your letter to both your PA legislators
To access contact info, see upper right hand corner at: www.legis.state.pa.us

Please consider sending a copy of your letter to Governor Corbett at his northeast office:

Governor's Northeast Office, Harry Forbes, Director

409 Lackawanna Avenue, Oppenheim Building, 3rd floor

Scranton, PA 18503

Email for Governor Corbett is: Governor@pa.gov

               

       Thank you for taking the time to help protect this treasured part of the PA Wilds.

Four Corners Natural Area Meeting

For years North Central Pennsylvania has been the environmental haven for generations of sportsmen, outdoor enthusiasts, and tourists that come here for our beautiful forests and streams, quiet communities and solitude.  The Pine Creek Gorge, the most well known area to locals and visitors, best exemplifies our region’s endless natural beauty and offers boundless opportunities for a person to get ‘lost in the wild’.  In addition, the greater region around the four counties of Tioga, Lycoming, Clinton and Potter from the Gorge to the Hammersley Wild Area contains some of the best examples of wild-lands in the Commonwealth.

This area is in danger of being significantly degraded by gas leases and drilling!

The ‘four corners’ region has emerged as a potential area for designation as a High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) for protection from such impacts under the larger DCNR umbrella.  The area includes Slate Run, Cedar Run, Kettle Creek, and the headwaters of Young Woman’s Creek. There are designated Wild and Natural Areas, Exceptional Value Streams and a number of endangered and threatened species that call this area home. 

Please come to the Gmeiner Arts Center, 134 Main Street, Wellsboro, Pa on September 19th at 7:30 pm for a presentation by Jim Weaver of the Tioga County Planning Commission, the Pine Creek Watershed Council, and the Pine Creek Headwaters Protection Group on the official designation of the Four Corners Natural Area located in the corners of Tioga, Lycoming, Clinton, and Potter Counties. Learn how we, as citizens who cherish this region, can become better informed and involved in holding on to this wild area and keeping it protected for us and our children. 

For more information, please visit www.tiaudubon.org

KEEP IT WILD!

DCNR Can Protect Headwaters of Rock Run / Masten Ghost Town/ Old Loggers Path

But it’s up to you to convince them to do the right thing.

If you don’t, DCNR is poised to sign a surface-use agreement that will decimate this remote portion of Loyalsock State Forest .

Background

Usually, mineral rights trump surface owner rights. . . But not in this case.

The state Bureau of Forests & Waters bought the land in 1933.  Clarence Moore, the seller, retained the mineral rights and put a clause in the deed that granted him a 50 year access to the surface.  That clause expired in 1983.

Commonwealth Court has affirmed that clause, so DCNR has a unique opportunity to legally protect 18,870 acres of this area from development.

This area is a unique and remote section of Loyalsock State Forest that lies in northeast Lycoming County . It includes the headwaters of the Exceptional Value Rock Run, the Devils Elbow Natural Area, the Old Loggers Path (a 27-mile circular hiking tail) and the Masten Ghost Town.

The Problem
 
Anadarko (and IDC) recently purchased those mineral rights.  They finished seismic testing in August and are pushing DCNR to sign a surface-use agreement.
 This agreement is the key. By virtue of the deeds, DCNR has the right to completely protect 18,870 acres from development. That agency does not have to allow Anadarko and IDC to use the surface. This is the only example we have ever heard of that allows DCNR to protect our public land in this manner.

Suggestions for writing an effective letter

In writing to DCNR Secretary Allan, please keep it factual.  Use one or two points from the “background info” above to demonstrate that you understand the situation, then use one or two of the “talking points” below to get you started.  Please blend those with your experiences of hunting, hiking and fishing in the area.  Copying everything looks like a form letter and decision-makers will ignore those.

Talking points
 
·         Our state forests are a public resource and the public must be involved.

·        The Rock Run / Masten / Old Loggers Path area is unique and must be protected, not exploited.

·        Given the ecological sensitivity and recreational significance of this area of the Loyalsock State Forest , any gas extraction or transmission operations in the forest would immediately and permanently impair pristine areas containing Exceptional Value streams and wetlands.

·        DCNR must immediately publish maps showing the precise location of the 18,870-acre and 6,841-acre parcels in the Loyalsock State Forest and post them for public view on the DCNR website.

·        DCNR must publish all of its environmental impact studies related to the Rock Run headwaters / Old Loggers Path / Masten area development. Be transparent.

·        DCNR must hold public meetings on the issue to afford the stakeholders a meaningful opportunity to participate in DCNR’s decision-making.

·        Before making any final development decisions, Public Meetings should be combined with an explanation of the alternative development options, including “no action”.

·        For those who cannot attend the Public Meetings, there should be a 60-day Public Comment Period.

·        Anadarko should have the opportunity to present their BMP development  plans to the public.

·        Anadarko will request rights-of-way across some of DCNR’s 18,870-acres in order to access portions of their 6,841-acres. DCNR should be transparent regarding this by posting the maps on its public web site.
·        DCNR is legally obligated to exercise the unique control granted in the deeds in the best interests of the public.

·        Unconventional natural gas development will take place over the next century. There is no rush to exploit every area.

·        Future technological development will undoubtedly result in better cementing, fewer accidents and longer laterals. These are all good reasons to be slow and deliberate in approving all natural gas development.

·        Consider all options for managing these exceptional areas. It’s a matter of a forest owned by the public – which is not just a ‘cash cow’ to be mindlessly expoited.

·        Under Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, DCNR has a legal duty to conserve and maintain State Forest lands for the benefit of all Pennsylvanians, including future generations.

·        DCNR may not grant a right-of-way unless it ensures that the surface will be protected. That mandates thorough environmental impact studies before granting any rights-of-way. Remember: “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”.


                               
The public resources at stake are the very heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The public’s ecological, recreational, and economic interest in them is simply too important for decisions to be made without input from the public and sound science to document species at risk and harm to the environment.                      


U.S.P.S. is the best way to have an impact.

A letter may sound “old-fashioned”, but it can’t be deleted with one keystroke and is more business-like. It takes handling and is already a hardcopy.

Address correspondence to:
    
Richard J. Allan, Secretary
Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
Rachel Carson State Office Building
P.O. Box 8767
400 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8767
If you can’t afford the stamp,
Rick’s e-mail is rjallan@pa.gov

Please CC your legislators.
Find their contact information via
www.legis.state.pa.us and enter your
zip code in the upper-right corner.

Thank you for taking the time to protect a part of PA Wilds.
One who speaks out is louder than 10,000 who remain silent.

Mountains and Waters Sutra

By Daishin Eric McCabe

Mt. Equity Zendo

This is a reading from Zen Master Dogen written in the year 1240.

“Mountains and Waters Sutra”

“Mountains and waters right now are the actualization of the ancient awakened way.  Each, abiding in its phenomenal expression, realizes completeness.  Because mountains and waters have been active since before the Empty Eon, they are alive at this moment.  Because they have been the self since before form arose they are emancipation-realization.” (unquote)

We usually think of the sutras as the actual words of the Buddha.  But here, by naming this the Mountains and Waters Sutra, Dogen is saying that the sutras are not limited to the words of an enlightened person, but the actual physical mountains and waters themselves as they are here and now.  These mountains are the sutras.  They are our sacred texts.  They are the foundation for any words that can be considered holy.

Moreover, the mountains and waters Zen Master Dogen is talking about are not simply objects of beauty or reverence, but are in fact our True Self.  “...since before form arose” means that since before creation we are with, in, and inseparable from these mountains and waters, from this Loyalsock State Forest. 

The healing of our planet and our own psyches begins every time we make a concerted effort like we are doing today to see ourselves in the mountains and to see the mountains as a part of ourself.

This is how I understand the teaching, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

May we not forget the sacred teachings of the mountains and waters, especially at this time at Loyalsock State Forest.

Opening Blessing

A Service of Blessing 

Rock Run, Ralston, PA 

Led by:  Interfaith Sacred Earth Coalition 

September 8, 2012 

LITANY FOR THE FOUR DIRECTIONS  

(all are invited to turn to each direction) 

Leader: Let us give thanks for the North, for the corn and soybean 

fields stretching across the land, for the hawk and the eagle, for the 

the lakes and streams, for bass and catfish, for winding two-lane 

blacktops in the heart rural farmlands. 

Response: We bless you, O God, for the North 

Leader: Let us give thanks for the South, for the broad Susquehanna 

emptying into the Chesapeake Bay, for maple and elm trees, for the 

goldfinch and bluebird, for earthworms and microbes, for the colors on 

the rocks and stones: 

Response: We bless you, O God, for the South. 

Leader: Let us give thanks for the West, for soaring mountains and 

laughing brooks, rabbits and raccoons, for pine and pin oak, for the 

mists of valleys and the high clouds of the sky:  

Response: We bless you, O God, for the West.  

Leader: Let us give thanks for the East, for these ancient hills and 

valleys and streams without end, for larch and hemlock, for black bear 

and mountain trout, for cardinals and blue jays, for this sacred space 

of Rock Run within this forest cathedral that hosts us today:  

Response: We bless you, O God, for the East.  

      

TIME OF SILENT CONTEMPLATION  

(You are invited to pray silently in your own tradition, or meditate on 

the following wisdom words from various traditions) 

Great Spirit, give me the strength to walk the soft earth, a relative 

to all that is! All over the earth the faces of living things are all 

alike. This is my prayer; hear me!  Black Elk, Oglala Sioux 

O moving force of Wisdom, you encircle the wheel of the cosmos, 

you encompass all that is, all that has life, in one vast circle.  

Hildegard of Bingen 

It could be that God has not absconded but spread, as our vision 

and understanding of the universe have spread, to a fabric of spirit 

and sense so grand and subtle, powerful in a new way, that we 

can only feel blindly of its hem. Annie Dillard, naturalist writer 

There is not anything new to be born. It has been within you from 

the beginningless beginning. It has only to be awakened, to 

become aware of itself in you.  Zen saying 

For in God we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28  

Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before 

the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you 

mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring 

foundations of the earth;. . .The Lord has told you, O mortal, what 

is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and 

to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:1-2, 8 

O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to 

Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, 

and whether it be (against) rich or poor.... Holy Qur’an 4:135 

A Bodhisattva resolves: I take upon myself the burden of all 

suffering, I am resolved to do so, I will endure it. And why? At all 

costs I must bear the burdens of all beings. The whole world of 

living beings I must rescue, from the terrors of birth, of old age, of 

sickness, of death and rebirth . . .and so I will help all beings to 

freedom, in all the states of woe that may be found.  Vajradhvaja- 

sktra 

LITANY FOR ARISING 

We arise today 

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the elements 

Through the belief in solidarity; through protection of nature 

And of the Creators of all. 

We arise today 

Through the strength of the souls in these woods and in the waters;  

in obedience to nature, in the service of all creation; 

In hope that our children's children will run through these trees. 

We arise today 

Through destiny's strength to pilot us: 

the earth's might to uphold us, ancients' wisdom to guide us, 

eyes of hawks to look before us, owl's ear to hear us, 

the sacred words to speak through us, 

our ancestors' hands to guard us, nature's way to lie before us, 

our neighbors' shield to protect us,  

the Holy’s embrace to save us 

from snares of evil ones; from temptations of an easy path, 

from everyone who shall wish us ill, 

alone and in multitude. 

May all that is sacred shield us today 

We stand on this ground as protectors 

we stand for our children, we stand for our earth-kin 

we stand for justice in this world. 

We arise today 

Through a mighty strength; the invocation of the elements 

Through the belief in solidarity; through protection of nature 

And of the Creators of all. 

By fin and feather, leaf and tree 

may our gathering forever blessed be! 

Go in peace. Care for the Earth. 

Shalom, Salaam alekim, Namaste, Blessings, Blessed be, Peace. 

Interfaith Sacred Earth Coalition 

Founder: The Rev. Leah Schade 

Email:  interfaithsacredearthcoalition@gmail.com 

Find us on Facebook! 

Interfaith Sacred Earth Coalition is a network of clergy and other 

people of faith who believe that care of God's creation is central to 

their calling as people of faith.  We believe that all children, women, 

men, and earth-kin have the right to clean water, land, air, and health.  

Started in January 2012 in response to the threats of the slickwater 

horizontal hydraulic fracturing industry (fracking) in the Susquehanna 

Valley of Pennsylvania, ISEC is committed to being a public presence 

on this and other ecological issues in order to bring ethical, moral, 

spiritual, and religious perspectives to bear.  The loosely-affiliated 

network currently includes over 80 individuals representing 8 different 

faith groups, as well as non-religiously affiliated individuals who have 

allied with ISEC, seeing a common purpose of protecting the earth and 

humanity.  We make an effort to hold government, corporate, and 

private citizens accountable whenever suffering and harm to the 

common good results from our individual, collective, business, and 

industrial actions.   

We encourage our fellow clergy and houses of worship to have the 

courage to address eco-justice issues, listen to the stories of those who 

suffer and have little or no voice in the public arena, and host public 

discernment discussions on ecological issues that affect their 

communities.  Our hope is to raise consciousness and offer education 

about eco-justice issues so that citizens may be better informed, 

advocate for eco-justice issues in the public arena, and offer a positive, 

creative vision for our planet based on our collective interfaith 

dialogue. 

Rock Run Remembrance

This delightful video captures the essence of what makes Rock Run so great: chilly falls, smooth rocks, and summer fun with family and friends. Thanks to Bryan Shipley for creating such a wonderful video.

Rain or Shine!

YES! Saturday's Keep It Wild event scheduled for 1:30 in Ralston is still on. Although we had hoped to hold the gathering in the state forest, it appears the weather may not cooperate with our plans.

RDA has rented the Ralston Fire Hall. In the interest of safety, we will meet indoors. We hope to see you there, rain or shine.

RDA Board of Directors

Don't Despoil Paradise

Image: Jeff Mitchell

By: B

I grew up adjacent to the Old Loggers Path/Rock Run area. My grandfather was part of the CCC project in the 1930's to reclaim and preserve the forest land and Pleasant Stream after the loggers and industry (a clothespin factory in Masten) had overharvested.

Generations of us since have quietly enjoyed the little-known area. It is an area which, once encountered, leaves a lasting impression of serenity, unspoiled nature, and tranquil other-worldliness that is almost unknown in our modern world. To despoil this paradise with gas drilling or any other industry would be nothing short of ungodly. The surrounding area has suffered enough, leave the people some refuge.

A Ralstonian Remembers

By: Michael R. Bastion

My great-grandfather, grandfather, uncles, and my father lived up on McIntyre and down in Ralston. When my father was a young boy he lived in a one-room shanty with his father. They called the cabin "Batsh" - short for "bat shanty". They were so primitive, the bats were their bed buddies.

My Uncle Charley ran the boarding house up there and they all worked in the mines. Only the affluent could afford a room in the hotel.

My father had to walk down off the mountain to Ralston for school. He followed the railroad tracks, and it was his duty to collect loose coal lying along the way for their heat. I said, "Wasnt that stealing?"

He always told stories about the rattlesnakes in the berry bushes, the wildcats, and the bears - oh my!
I asked him what he used to defend himself. "Oh, a stick or stones," he said.

 It was my father's job to take my Pop-Pop's lunch back in the tunnels. He would say how dark it was deep underground, and he talked of rats as big as house cats.

I saw one of his report cards once. He had many days absent or tardy and a few (well, alot) F's. He always said it was uphill both ways. Back in the olden days, the boys only had knickers and high tops and the snow got mighty deep.

Then came the Prohibition days. The Moonshine was a-cookin' in my grandfather's still. I heard tell it was the best White Lightening in the country. I think they drank more than they sold: they all liked to get hooched. Maybe it was the mine dust. My grandfather served a year in Federal prison for his business and all his capers.

One night after Pop left the saloon topsy-turvy, he decided to show a new friend how to fish with dynamite. Turns out this friend was the game warden: more jail time.

My father became a teenager, and he started hopping trains - literary jumping off the banks into the moving coal cars. He got more than one whoppin' for this stunt. He train-hopped to Canton to see the girls. He always had a fresh set of clothes hidden in a bag somewhere. They'd ride to Williamsport, eat a footlong hotdog, and see the Saturday movie matinee at the theater for a quarter.

My Pop-Pop later lived at and ran the McIntyre Inn. It burned twice, and he lost most of his possessions in the fire. My grandfather lived and tended bar at the Candle Light Inn in Ralston. I am also related to the Campbells (my step-grandmother was Lillian Campbell) in and around Ralston.

I was born and raised in Canton, the third son of five. I attended school in Canton with kids who rode the bus from Marsh Hill, a ways south of Ralston. My first visit to Rock Run was in the fall  of 1993. It was spitting snow and I went swimming. All I can I remember is: burrrrrrrrrr! I fell in love with the place.

Just think: at one time Ralston was a boom town. It even had a tannery. It started with iron ore before coal got big. There was logging too, and the railroad.

I asked my dad lots of questions about his upbringing. He said he endured hardships, but that he and the other miners were tougher than nails and harder than the coal they mined.

The Ralstonians are the same wonderful people they were back in the good old days. Time has passed and things have changed, but the beauty in these majestic mountains and the babbling crystal waters still remain: eye-catching, breath-taking, tingling to every available sense.

Please, let's keep it this way forever....and ever.

Keep It Wild FAQ's

So - what's happening exactly?    We'll meet in Ralston at the Fire Department. From there, volunteers will direct you on a 0.4 mile walk into the Loyalsock State Forest. We'll gather in the woods just off the road for music and speakers. After that, maps of noteworthy spots along Rock Run will be distributed. To avoid heavy traffic on the narrow road, attendees are strongly encouraged to carpool. RDA will facilitate movement from place to place so that our impact is minimized.    Who will be speaking?   Rev. Leah Schade, pastor of the United in Christ Church in Union County  Ralph Kisberg, RDA President Mark Szybist, RDA Board of Directors and attorney for Penn Future Jim Dunn, Armstrong Township Supervisor and member of the Lycoming County Planning Commission Kevin Heatley, RDA Restoration Ecologist Barb Jarmoska, RDA Board of Directors Morgan Myers, RDA Director of Communications and Outreach Rev. Daishin McCabe, Mount Equity Zendo    Do you have permission from the Fire Department? The DCNR? Yes, RDA has rented the Ralston Fire Department and our event has been confirmed with DCNR. They're expecting us.   Where should we park? There's limited parking at the Fire Hall. Once the lot fills, volunteers will direct you to available spaces nearby. The best way to ensure parking availability is to carpool.      Should I bring my wallet? The event is totally free. Organic cotton Keep It WILD t-shirts may be available for purchase by check or cash. Purchasing a t-shirt will help pay for the cost of running the campaign. Donations are also accepted.  Is the event handicap-accessible?    Unfortunately, no. Our wooded gathering place is not easily handicap-accessible, and RDA is unable to make accommodations given the terrain. We sincerely apologize. However, it may be possible to hear presentations from a car parked along the road. Can I bring my dog?  It's best to leave dogs at home or in the car (parked in shade) during the actual event. Will there be food? No. If you plan to hike afterward, you should pack water bottles and snacks. There's one small general store in Ralston.     What happens if it rains?  We'll hold the event in the Fire Hall instead of the woods.      Can I volunteer?   Yes! Please e-mail RDA to express your interest. We need all hands on deck for a smooth-flowing event.

Keep It WILD Campaign To Preserve Special Places

Contact: Ralph Kisberg                                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phone: 570-494-7583

email: rkisberg@gmail.com

KEEP IT WILD CAMPAIGN TO PRESERVE SPECIAL PLACES

Responsible Drilling Alliance seeks preservation of acreage in Loyalsock State Forest

Williamsport, PA—August 30, 2012—Anyone familiar with the Loyalsock State Forest in Lycoming County near Ralston, PA will understand why Rock Run and Old Loggers Path are such beloved treasures of the PA Wilds. Rugged cliffs, crystal-clear pools, and jaw-dropping waterfalls prompted Backpacker Magazine to name Rock Run as one of the best swimming holes in America. In Backpacking Pennsylvania, author Jeff Mitchell described the Path as “...one of Pennsylvania’s premier loop trails. The OLP showcases some of the state’s most scenic areas, with sweeping vistas, cascading streams, rock outcrops and Rock Run, a stream of exceptional beauty.”

Sadly, the area is threatened with industrial development. If it occurs, this core wilderness in and around the Old Loggers Path and on the edges of the Rock Run watershed will be forever changed.

Responsible Drilling Alliance, based in Williamsport PA, has teamed up with other stakeholders across the region to organize “Keep It WILD”, a campaign to preserve the Rock Run & Old Loggers Path area for future generations. To support the effort, the public is invited to gather on September 8th at 1:30 pm at the Ralston Fire Hall. For details, visit: www.keepitwildblog.blogspot.com.

The event will include short presentations on gas development in the surrounding region, as well as legal, political, and environmental challenges faced in preserving an oasis of exceptional public land in the center of four heavily drilled counties. Participants will be given directions on how to lightly explore this fragile area on foot, as it is necessarily designed for minimal traffic intrusion.