Local residents joined the Sierra Club PA Chapter and PennEnvironment in Tyler State Park to thank Senator Chuck McIlhinney for his vote against balancing the state budget by leasing new tracts of state park and forest land for fracking. Senator McIlhinney was the only Senate Republican to vote against the budget and fiscal code bills earlier this summer, both of which provided for more natural gas development in state forests and unconventional gas development for the first time in state parks.
“Creating a balanced spending plan was an extremely difficult process for lawmakers, and that process required difficult choices. However, I firmly believe that the overreliance on new natural gas leases on state forest lands was the wrong approach,” Senator McIlhinney said. “Sierra Club and PennEnvironment are two of the leading voices in support of preserving our natural resources, and I am deeply grateful for their recognition.”
“I am pleased to join Senator McIlhinney and his constituents here in Tyler State Park to thank him for being the lone Senate Republican to stand up for beautiful, recreational places like this one,” said Joanne Kilgour, Director of the Sierra Club PA Chapter. “We join the Senator today in using our state parks as they were intended to be used – for picnicking, hiking, and coming together as a community, not for natural gas development.”
Senator McIlhinney, constituents, and members of the environmental community met at the Park’s picnic area and took to the trails for a nature hike. On the hike, participants recognized Senator McIlhinney for his vote on the budget, while highlighting the value of our state park system and the need to preserve state park land for recreation and conservation – not natural gas development.
“We appreciate Sen. McIlhinney standing up for our state parks and forests instead of fracking. Whether it’s traveling to Ricketts Glen or hiking at Ohiopyle, our state parks are enjoyed by millions—including many who live right here in Bucks County,” said Adam Garber, Field Director at PennEnvironment.
“Creating a balanced spending plan was an extremely difficult process for lawmakers, and that process required difficult choices. However, I firmly believe that the overreliance on new natural gas leases on state forest lands was the wrong approach,” Senator McIlhinney said. “Sierra Club and PennEnvironment are two of the leading voices in support of preserving our natural resources, and I am deeply grateful for their recognition.”“I am pleased to join Senator McIlhinney and his constituents here in Tyler State Park to thank him for being the lone Senate Republican to stand up for beautiful, recreational places like this one,” said Joanne Kilgour, Director of the Sierra Club PA Chapter. “We join the Senator today in using our state parks as they were intended to be used – for picnicking, hiking, and coming together as a community, not for natural gas development.”
Senator McIlhinney, constituents, and members of the environmental community met at the Park’s picnic area and took to the trails for a nature hike. On the hike, participants recognized Senator McIlhinney for his vote on the budget, while highlighting the value of our state park system and the need to preserve state park land for recreation and conservation – not natural gas development.
“We appreciate Sen. McIlhinney standing up for our state parks and forests instead of fracking. Whether it’s traveling to Ricketts Glen or hiking at Ohiopyle, our state parks are enjoyed by millions—including many who live right here in Bucks County,” said Adam Garber, Field Director at PennEnvironment.