Athens News 7/8/2012
Excerpt:   “Citizens interested in the issue of oil-and-gas drilling in the Wayne National Forest will have a chance to learn more about it at an “open house” scheduled for Wednesday evening.

A group opposed to allowing more drilling on the national forest has announced it plans to hold a rally during the event, and has suggested the “open house” format is too restrictive of public dialogue, and should be opened up by including a true “public forum” segment.

The open house is scheduled for 3-6 p.m. at the Wayne National Forest headquarters off U.S. Rt. 33 between Nelsonville and The Plains.

Agencies taking part will include the federal Bureau of Land Management, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil & Gas Resources Management, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, all of which are involved in managing oil and natural gas resources on the Wayne and regulating drilling.  ….”

Read entire article at http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-37274-groups-to-protest-national-forest-info-session-on-drilling.html

Washington Examiner; 11/17/2011
Excerpt:   “President Obama’s United States Department of Agriculture has delayed shale gas drilling in Ohio for up to six months by cancelling a mineral lease auction for Wayne National Forest (WNF). The move was taken in deference to environmentalists, on the pretext of studying the effects of hydraulic fracturing.
“Conditions have changed since the 2006 Forest Plan was developed,” announced WNF Supervisor Anne Carey on Tuesday. “The technology used in the Utica & Marcellus Shale formations need to be studied to see if potential effects to the surface are significantly different than those identified in the Forest Plan.” The study will take up to six months to complete. The WNF study reportedly “will focus solely on how it could affect forest land,” despite the significance of hydraulic fracturing to united proponents of the delay, “and not how it could affect groundwater.”…”

Read entire article at  http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/obama-usda-delays-shale-drilling-200k-jobs

Irontown Tribune; 11/18/2011

Excerpt:   “The Wayne National Forest leadership absolutely got it right this week when it announced that more than 3,000 acres of public land will not be included in an upcoming gas and oil lease sale, stemming from concerns about the environmental damage that could be caused.
At issue is deep horizontal drilling and lateral hydraulic fracturing, commonly called “fracking,” and exactly how it could affect forest surface land and water quality….”

Read complete article at  http://www.irontontribune.com/2011/11/18/wnf-correct-to-take-look-at-%E2%80%98fracking%E2%80%99/

Athens Messenger; 11/15/2011
Excerpt:The U.S. Forest Service has rescinded its consent for a proposed leasing of more than 3,300 acres in the Wayne National Forest for oil and gas drilling.
Also, the Forest Service announced it will be conducting a review of the environmental impacts of drilling for gas and oil in Utica and Marcellus shale, according to Jane Cliff, a spokeswoman for the Forest Service’s District 9 office in Wisconsin.
Both actions were recommended Monday by Anne Carey, who became the Wayne National Forest’s supervisor a week ago…..”

Read more at http://www.athensmessenger.com/news/article_423c4904-0f79-11e1-924d-001cc4c03286.html

The Athens News; 11/14/2011
Excerpt:   “Shale-bed fracking opponents in Athens County this Wednesday plan to hand-deliver more than 1,000 letters and petition signatures to the Wayne National Forest headquarters near Nelsonville, the opponents said in a news release on Friday.
The group, calling its Wednesday visit to the Forest Service HQ “Right the Wayne,” is demanding that the Forest Service withdraw consent for oil and gas lease sales on the national forest. In an article Oct. 2, The Athens NEWS reported that the federal Bureau of Land Management was poised to auction off more than 3,000 acres of the Wayne forest for oil and gas leases, as part of a three-state auction involving nearly 21,000 acres in Ohio, Louisiana and Mississippi….”

Read more at http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-35362-fracking-opponents-to-petition-forest-service-to-cancel-auction.html

Athens News; 10/6/2011
Excerpt:   “Bids for oil-and-gas leases on more than 3,000 acres of Wayne National Forest land will start at $2 an acre, according to an official of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
The “public notice” of the pending auction – set for Dec. 7 – consisted only of posting an announcement in the “public room” of the BLM’s website, according to Larry R. Denny, acting deputy state director of resources for the agency. The BLM also provided the U.S. Surface Management Agency a copy of the auction notice, Denny said.
Denny declined to answer questions by phone about the auction, which has triggered serious opposition among local environmental groups, as well as Athens city and county government officials. He did, however, answer written questions from The Athens NEWS via e-mail…..”

Read more at  http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-35001-bids-on-wayne-oil-gas-leases-to-start-at-$2-an-acre.html