Interviewing with Impunity - The Curt Ashenfelter Q&A, Part 3

Curt Ashenfelter, the Executive Director of the Keystone Trails Association (KTA), recently participated in a Q&A with Hiking with Impunity. In the first part of our interview, Curt explained the importance of the KTA to Pennsylvania's trails and some of the opportunities available to hikers to help with trail maintenance. The second part of our interview consisted of the entire testimony Mr. Ashenfelter presented to the Pennsylvania House Game & Fisheries Committee. The following transcript is the last portion of our Q&A in which Mr Ashenfelter addresses topics such as hydrofracking.

Q: One of the hot issues right now is hydraulic fracturing, or “hydrofracking”, the process by which natural gasses are released from shales by the use of high-pressure water. Why should people be concerned about fracking? What problems do you see both for the environment and people?
 
A: The Marcellus Shale lying 6,000 feet beneath many Pennsylvania hiking trails could become the most productive natural gas field in the U.S., capable of supplying the entire country’s needs for up to 20 years.  Pennsylvania could become the Saudi Arabia of natural gas.  However there are many challenges to extracting the gas safely and not destroying our waters and the scenic value of Pennsylvania’s beautiful hiking trails.
 
The energy drillers are confident that their methods to extract the gas are safe and that they can reclaim the land after the drilling is completed.  Others are not so sure.  Pennsylvania has had previous experience with natural resource companies that have left our state’s waters and lands heavily polluted and barren.  Over 100 years ago the state was forced to buy and restore great tracts of land that had been destroyed.
 
Since gas drillers will have a substantial impact on the landscape of Pennsylvania the Keystone Trails Association is advocating that as good corporate citizens they should pay their fair share of the costs all commonwealth citizens bear to live and work in Pennsylvania.
 
Gas drillers in Texas have paid a severance tax on the extraction of natural gas of between $1.4 billion and $2.7 billion annually for the last five years.  In aggregate they have paid over $10 billion in the last five years. 
 
Pennsylvania needs a severance tax similar to Texas’s to pay for the downstream costs associated with gas drilling and the impact on our land and water supplies.  New York State is so concerned with the risks associated with gas drilling to its drinking water that gas drilling has been banned.  Consequently energy companies in New York State are now focusing their efforts on Pennsylvania.
 
Some gas drilling lobbyists will tell you that a severance tax will kill the infant industry.  ExxonMobil’s recent purchase of one of the infant companies for $31 billion suggests a far different fate for the infant industry.  The gas industry in Pennsylvania is here to stay.  There are huge energy reserves available and huge profits to be made.  The only question is after the profits are gone, who will pay to clean up the pollution left behind?  Who will pay to repair the broken infrastructure of roads and bridges?  Who will pay for the remediation efforts from the unintended consequences of gas extraction?  Will the gas drillers pay their fair share or will once again the average citizen be forced through paying their taxes to clean up the environment and repair the infrastructure after the fact?

Between 2005 and 2008, 120 well-drilling permits were issued.  In 2009, more than 1,700 permits were issued.  In 2012 the sky is the limit.  Fly over the state and you will see many gas pads.  To understand the scale of the deforestation each site removed five acres of trees. 

One in three acres of state forest land is currently available for gas drilling.  Imagine hiking through a state forest where every third acre is a gas pad.  Gas drillers will seek to expand that acreage in 2012.  We say enough is enough.  Now we are not advocating a no drill ban, as in New York State, but we are advocating a go slow approach to properly address all the risks, and a severance tax to pay for those risks.  Please contact your state senator and your state representative to express your support for a severance tax on gas extraction in Pennsylvania

Q: How is the KTA advocating it’s position on fracking?

A:  We have publicized our position in our newsletter and on our website.  We have met with State Senators and State Representatives.  We have written letters to numerous federal and state agencies.  We have encouraged our members to contact their State Senators and State Representatives to express their concerns.

Q: If someone wanted to become more involved in advocating against fracking, what actions do you suggest they take?
 
A: First and most importantly I would encourage them to contact their State Senator, their State Representative and the Governor’s Office and express their concerns via a personal meeting, a telephone call or a letter.

 

Q: It was quite unfortunate that the Super Hike had to be cancelled this year. Between Hurricane Irene and some of the recent storms, I have bore witness to some of the damage to our local hiking trails. Are you aware of any trails that have been severely damaged that our readers should be aware of? How is the KTA involved in the restoration of these damaged trails?
 
A:  Yes we were all deeply disappointed that severe flooding led to the cancellation of the Super Hike, but it was the right decision to protect the health and welfare of not only our participants, but any emergency personnel who would be called in to rescue a hiker who fell victim to raging flood waters.
2011 has been a year of a number of extreme events, including an earthquake, hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, floods, etc.  Yes I am aware of numerous trails, too many to list that were severely damaged in 2011.
Fortunately, the hard working trail volunteers of the Keystone Trails Association worked diligently all summer and fall to restore the trails to the best of their ability.
At this time I would advise your readers to check the KTA website Trail Alert section for most current information.

Q: What is Prowl the Sproul?
 
A:  Prowl the Sproul is our Summer Hiking Weekend in July in Clinton County and the Sproul State Forest.  It is our least expensive guided hike weekend and a great value for hikers on a budget.  Hikers are able to explore new and exciting parts of the Sproul that are only seen when hiking with a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) guide.
The “Sproul” contains some of the most rugged and remote forestland in Pennsylvania.  Guided hikes organized by DCNR are scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
DCNR guides will share their insider knowledge of the trails while they lead hikers off the beaten path to explore the hidden jewels of the Sproul State Forest.  Popular hikes include the Chuck Keiper Trail, the Donut Hole Trail the Hammersley Wild Area, the Jack Paulhamus/Garby Trails and portions of the Hyner View Trail Challenge course.

The Western Clinton Sportsmen’s Association is our host for the weekend with camping and meal packages available.  Enjoy a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere in close proximity to many great trails.
Hike with us for a day or join us for the entire hiking weekend.  If you have any questions please call me at 717 238 7017 or visit our website at www.kta-hike.org.  I hope to see you Friday night for our wine and cheese welcome party.  Share your favorite hiking story, wine and cheese with KTA.

Q: Curt, what is your first memory of hiking?

A:  A beautiful autumn hike through deep woods and fantastical, flaming foliage; along streams and up and down hills.
 
Q: Who or what inspired you to take to the trails?
 
A:  National Geographic featured a story on the Appalachian Trail. Since I was living north of Harrisburg at the time and not too far from the trail I thought I would give the trail a try. Hiking has provided me with countless beautiful and wonderful memories, has soothed my soul in good and bad times, and has improved my physical health.
 
Q: Out of all the hikes and all the trails you have been on, what experience has been the most memorable?
 
A:  Wow, that’s a lot of hikes and trails to sort through, but the most memorable experience would have to be an absolutely gorgeous hike in a driving snowstorm with big fat snow flakes piling up inches and then feet.
 
Q: With so many organizations available, why should our readers become a member of the KTA?

A:  There may be one or more reasons why your readers should become a member of KTA:

Guided hikes: if you are new or an experienced hiker the guided hikes in different parts of Pennsylvania are great, you get to meet new people, you don’t have to plan the hikes, and you get to see areas of Pennsylvania that you would never find on your own.
Trail Maintenance: whether you volunteer to give back to the trail, or fund trail maintenance through your membership and appeal dollars, trails deserve your support.  I think every hiker has or will have the “ah-ha” moment where you are hiking along a trail and it suddenly dawns on you that this trail would not exist if not for the maintenance efforts of the Keystone Trails Association.
Trail Advocacy: trails are under constant threats from non hikers who want to use them or the lands they occupy for other purposes.  Only by joining and funding the Keystone Trails Association will hikers have a seat at the table when government agencies make decisions about trails and land use.
 
Membership in the Keystone Trails Association is a great gift idea this holiday season or at birthday time for the hiker in your family or for a hiker friend.
 
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I would like to meet your readers on a trail sometime and personally welcome them to the Keystone Trails Association, hopefully I will get that chance in Wellsboro, but if not there perhaps somewhere else soon.

This interview was conducted via email between "Hiking" Mike Magro and Curt Ashenfelter.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the KTA, you may visit their website here to join online or by downloading their membership form from our website by clicking here.

About the Author

”Hiking” Mike Magro is the primary contributor and editor of Hiking with Impunity. Always on the look-out for a good hike, Mike is hoping to get through the rest of the year having minimal to no injuries while on the trail.
Follow Me on Twitter