Well done, Ms. Saul, in the Sunday edition of the Sun-Gazette, DCNR issued State Forest Advisories for local State Forests Districts. This was a first, and DCNR deserves to be commended for a much needed service to the general public.
These advisories listed 42 secondary roads which are being dominated by heavy gas truck traffic, in Loyalsock, Sproul, Susquehannock, Tioga and Tiadaghton Forest Districts. All of these roads being dominated and controlled by the gas companies, follow fresh water streams and are located in the very heart of the most prime and prestigious hunting and fishing terrain in the northeastern part of the U.S. None of these roads listed can accommodate two way heavy gas truck traffic.
Without pullover spots, they cannot be used as two way roads, thus guard stations manned by security guards are required. Some places allow walk-in access only, while others allow extremely limited parking for fishing and hunting. Some of these roads which I have driven in the past year, such as Dam Run, Lower Pine Bottom, Caldwell, Queens, Truman, Lebo Vista, Hyner, Bobst Mountain and Buckhorn Roads are unsafe for small vehicles to navigate any time of year, with the winter months being the most treacherous.
Could there be a reason why these roads lead to secluded mountain tops away from our paved roads, so as not to be observed by the general public? Or is the purpose to acclimate the public, so they become accustomed to changing conditions, when the drilling companies move off the mountains and down in our populated valleys? Things may not be as good as we are being led to believe.
Weldon C. Cohick Jr.
Linden
