The federal authorities has given discover that it plans to public sale oil and fuel lease rights for
1,600 acres of Wayne National Forest close to Marietta, a step that could result in fracking on public
land.
Energy business officers are applauding the choice, which impacts elements of Monroe and
Washington counties, whereas environmentalists are criticizing it.
With the discover, a 30-day clock begins during which opponents can file a proper protest. The
authorities will evaluation the objections earlier than shifting forward with an internet public sale scheduled for Dec.
13.
The affected land is a part of Ohio’s solely nationwide forest, which covers greater than 240,000 acres
within the southeastern a part of the state.
The proposed leases are “a step in the right direction,” stated Shawn Bennett, government vice
president of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, a commerce group. “It opens up lands which might be required
to be leased by a number of federal statutes.”
Many environmental teams oppose the leases, saying this is able to be a step towards permitting
widespread hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, on public lands.
“This choice is dangerous for wildlife, dangerous for recreation, and dangerous for the general well being of the
Wayne,” stated Nathan Johnson, an lawyer for the Ohio Environmental Council, in an e-mail.
He stated his group will attraction the choice on the grounds that the federal government has not completed
sufficient to think about environmental considerations.
The land to be leased is within the far japanese a part of the forest, the place there are substantial oil
and fuel reserves and fewer public opposition to drilling for power.
The Bureau of Land Management, one of many federal businesses dealing with the method, shouldn’t be leasing
land within the a part of the forest in and round Athens County, the place public opposition has been
robust, and the place power corporations are displaying much less curiosity.
The discover, dated on Friday, adopted a report that day from the bureau saying that power
drilling would haven’t any vital impression on the surroundings.
“The undertaking doesn’t violate any recognized federal, state, native or tribal law or requirement
imposed for the safety of the surroundings,” stated the report, signed by Dean Gettinger, a
district supervisor for the bureau.
Oil and fuel extraction has lengthy taken place within the forest, though on a smaller scale than what
might be coming with new leases. The U.S. Forest Service says that there are greater than 1,200
typical oil and fuel wells within the forest. These are principally small wells and lots of are not
lively.
The course of has drawn consideration as a result of it might open the door to fracking of public land within the
forest. Critics of fracking have lengthy argued that the tactic is dangerous to the air and water, whereas
the business has stated that fracking can be completed safely.
More details about the leases and submitting objections can be discovered at
http://go.usa.gov/xKHr4.
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