On October 3, PA’s Director of Parks, John Norbeck, submitted his resignation. During his 6 years in that position, PA’s parks won the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.
Less than a week later, Norbeck stated to Post-Gazette Pipeline reporter Don Hopey that he was forced to resign because of “philosophical differences” with the Corbett administration—chief among them was his opposition to opening up our state parks to commercial timbering, mining and Marcellus Shale gas drilling.
It is thought that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Deputy Secretary Ellen Ferretti, who was hired by the Corbett administration “to develop policy on a variety of issues, including Marcellus Shale oil and gas development and drilling,” was the individual who forced Norbeck out.
His resignation follows that of Dr. Paulette Viola of the DCNR’s Citizens Advisory Council in September. Dr. Viola has said that the Corbett administration made it impossible for her or the council to do their job. She had served on the Council for 18 years.
Many environmental interests in the state see this move as the administration clearing the way for gas extraction and mining in state parks, and Norbeck confirmed that the parks bureau has twice denied a request from the Amerikohl Mining company to mine limestone under the Laurel Ridge State Park in Somerset County. Amerikohl has said that it will continue to make that request.
A spokesperson for Corbett said that “Any assertion that there’s a connection between John Norbeck’s resignation and natural resource development on state land is totally without merit.”
But Steve Hvozdovich of Clean Water Action said that denial was hard to believe.
“When they haven’t offered an explanation, you can’t help but think that Corbett is lining his ducks up in a row,” he said. “I don’t know any other conclusions to draw. This may be a process that we don’t know the outcome of for 6 months or more.”
