PA State Parks Director (Rendell Holdover) Forced To Resign: Nothing To Do W. Fracking, Sez Corbett

HARRISBURG - The abrupt resignation of a state parks director who brought national recognition to the 117-unit system is fueling debate over potential natural gas drilling on state park lands in Pennsylvania.

John Norbeck, a Rendell administration appointee who previously worked in the Maryland parks system, said in an interview that philosophical differences with the Corbett administration on drilling, timbering and mining in the state parks led to his forced resignation effective Oct. 19, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources which oversees the state parks denies any link between Norbeck's resignation and development of state parks resources.

"The speculation that his departure had anything to do with philosophical differences within DCNR regarding resource development on state park lands is puzzling and inaccurate, especially considering the fact that there have been no plans to lift the moratorium on leasing for drilling on state park lands since Governor Corbett took office," said spokeswoman Christina Novak on Wednesday.

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http://republicanherald.com/news/state-parks-director-ouster-stirs-controversy-1.1386922