By David Hurst
EBENSBURG - The location of a Marcellus Shale drilling pad site could mean the difference between life or extinction for some of Pennsylvania's unique wildlife, Penn State officials said Thursday.
But if planned properly, there's room in the state's woodlands for it to thrive alongside responsible drilling, Penn State wildlife resources professor Margaret C. Brittingham said.
"Natural gas drilling and protecting our natural resource base don't have to be incompatible," she said. "But it requires forethought, planning and trade-offs."
Such measures are the only logical step here, considering Marcellus drilling will become a part of western Pennsylvania's industry and landscape for decades to come, Penn State researchers told about 20 people who attended a Cambria County Conservation District's Marcellus Shale forum.
They hope planning for it, research and new technology that will digitally map two-thirds of the state and its wetlands will help landowners, groups concerned about Pennsylvania's wildlife and drilling companies work together to minimize forest and resource damage.
"We have to adapt," Brittingham said, telling landowners to "do their homework" before allowing drillers to move onto their land and stress buffer zones near streams and unique forest areas.
Fortunately, many of the state's wildlife species are also good at adapting, she added, citing black bears, blue jays and raccoons as examples.
But others, such as the broad wing hawk, certain song birds and some amphibians, could be threatened without the right planning, researchers added. It's even more important, Brittingham said, for rare ones such as the wood thrush, whose Pennsylvania population makes up about 10 percent of its nationwide count.
Pat Drohan, a Penn State soil specialist, said wetland mapping could allow those concerned to make sure that nature's "less adaptable" keep their habitats.
It could also help landowners with plans to lease land for drilling and those nearby to ensure the often multi-acre drilling pads and other shale activities don't disrupt water flow and cause flooding.
Meanwhile, Penn State researchers are working on a research project looking at changes in wildlife population by comparing similar areas where drilling has and hasn't occurred, Brittingham added.
She noted that state regulations require drillers conduct endangered species searches before moving into an area but the new computerized mapping will provide one more tool.
"Mineral rights' owners have a right to access their land but surface owners have a right to right to ensure their resources are reasonably protected," Brittingham said.
This was the conservation district's third public shale forum. District Manager Robb Piper said the topic and several upcoming ones were partly spawned by public interest.
"People here care about our wildlife, resources and outdoor recreation," said Brittingham.
"Sure, there's a lot of value in the natural gas below ground but there's plenty of value in what's above ground, too."
Mirror Staff Writer David Hurst is at 946-7457.
