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May 18, 2002 For Immediate Release
DCNR Secretary John Oliver receives citation from Earth Police Special Agents Justice N. Earth and Tai A. Daughton issue citations to Secretary Oliver for ignoring environmental impacts associated with Gas Drilling Planned for State Parks and Forests Pittsburgh, PA - Today, in a special theatrical demonstration in downtown Pittsburgh, two special agents for the Earth Police issued a citation to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary John C. Oliver. The citation was issued to Secretary Oliver by special agents Justice N. Earth and Tai A. Daughton for Secretary Oliver's handling of a DCNR planned auction of a half-million acres of state forest and park land for oil and gas development. Oliver was in Pittsburgh to take part in a scheduled hike departing from Point State Park at 10am and ending at Washington's Landing at 11:45am. Special Agents Earth and Daughton joined the hike at Point State Park to issue the citation to Oliver. "Secretary Oliver has not been forthcoming with the public concerning this auction," said Special Agent Earth. "He secretly met with representatives from the oil and gas industry for over eighteen months to develop this plan but won't hold a single public hearing to take testimony from the public." Oliver was cited by the two Earth Police agents for "Ignoring environmental impacts", "Ignoring the public", "Pandering to oil and gas corporations", and "Degrading or destroying Pennsylvania's Public Lands" among other charges. The auction of Pennsylvania's state park and forest areas for oil and gas drilling was postponed after intense public outcry, but, according to the DCNR, they currently have no intention of preparing an environmental impact statement or in holding public hearings. The Earth Police field agents pointed to recent criticism of the Secretary who has financial ties to the oil and gas industry. "He was not very receptive, which is consistent with how he has handled previous public criticism of this planned auction," remarked Special Agent Daughton. "Secretary Oliver holds a significant amount of stock in the oil and gas industry and should be investigated for his potential conflicts of interest in this matter." Download the Earth Police citation. (pdf format) Download pictures of the event:
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