HARRISBURG, PA — State Rep. Greg Vitali on April 28 appealed the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ denial of his right-to-know request seeking information about Gov. Tom Corbett’s plan to raise $75 million through the additional leasing of state parks and forests for natural gas drilling.

“It’s unfortunate we have to go to these lengths for information that should be readily available,” said Vitali, the Democratic chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. “The legislature needs to know which parks and forests are under consideration for drilling, how many acres will be leased, which companies will be doing the drilling and how the $75 million figure was calculated.”

The appeal was filed with the Office of Open Records, which has 30 days after it receives the appeal to make a final determination. In addition, Vitali last week filed two new right-to-know requests seeking information about the plan with the office of the budget and the governor’s office.