U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter [R-PA], Visits Smethport Town Meeting
October 22, 2008
The Bradford Era - by Fran De Lancey
U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., fielded numerous questions at a town meeting Tuesday about the effects of oil and gas drilling on the Allegheny National Forest.
Those posing the questions were concerned about the drilling that they said was having detrimental effects on recreational activities on the forest. Another man mentioned the historic use of the forest and noted the threat to a cemetery close to it. Still another individual pointed to the economic impact that the reduced deer herd is having on local merchants who for years in the past have counted on sales from hunters just before the holiday season.




Smethport is adjacent to 2 million acres of public land that is home to the largest elk herd in the eastern U.S., pockets of white-tailed deer, 15,000 black bear, as well as an abundance of turkeys, pheasants, grouse, waterfowl and other small game. Come and enjoy hiking, biking, canoeing and kayaking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ATVing, horseback riding, hunting, fishing and more.











