"The longtime head of the citizens advisory committee that has oversight of the state's parks and forests was fired Friday by the Corbett administration, a termination that council members say was illegal and raises concerns about reduced public accountability of Marcellus Shale gas drilling in state forests."

"Kurt Leitholf, who served as executive director of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Citizens Advisory Council since 1996, was told Wednesday that his position would be eliminated. He was let go two days later.

Mr. Leitholf, 56, said that even though he was hired by and worked for the independent committee, he was told by a DCNR administrator that he was an "at will employee" and that the governor's office had determined this position was no longer needed."

Don Hopey reports for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette January 16, 2012. [2]