ANF Meetings on Oil, Gas
As Well As Lawsuit
The Allegheny National Forest (NF) announced today that it will be hosting three public meetings to discuss the oil and gas program and a recently filed settlement that will have a direct effect on future development within the Forest.
Meetings are scheduled for:
1. Monday, April 13th, 7:00 p.m., Warren Holiday Inn (Main Ballroom), Ludlow St. in Warren;
2. Tuesday, April 14th, 7:00 p.m., Frame-Westerberg Commons (University Room) at University of Pittsburgh in Bradford
3. Wednesday, April 15th, 7:00 p.m., Clarion Holiday Inn at the junction of State Route 68 and Interstate-80 (exit 62).
As Forest Supervisor Marten expressed, “Although this is short notice regarding these meetings, the public deserves to know as soon as possible how we are planning to move forward.”
On April 9th, 2009, the United States Forest Service, Allegheny Defense Project, Sierra Club and Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics filed a stipulation of dismissal of the pending lawsuit, along with a settlement agreement with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The settlement resolves all matters related to the case brought by the Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics. This lawsuit was filed in November 2008 and challenged the issuance of Notices to Proceed for development of reserved and outstanding oil and gas resources within the Allegheny NF.
In summary, the settlement filed with the Court, includes the processing of 54 pending oil and gas proposals for a total of 588 wells, 2 pipelines, and one seismic line following current procedures. All remaining pending oil and gas proposals, and all future proposals, will be processed after the appropriate level of environmental analysis has been conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Meetings are scheduled for:
1. Monday, April 13th, 7:00 p.m., Warren Holiday Inn (Main Ballroom), Ludlow St. in Warren;
2. Tuesday, April 14th, 7:00 p.m., Frame-Westerberg Commons (University Room) at University of Pittsburgh in Bradford
3. Wednesday, April 15th, 7:00 p.m., Clarion Holiday Inn at the junction of State Route 68 and Interstate-80 (exit 62).
As Forest Supervisor Marten expressed, “Although this is short notice regarding these meetings, the public deserves to know as soon as possible how we are planning to move forward.”
On April 9th, 2009, the United States Forest Service, Allegheny Defense Project, Sierra Club and Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics filed a stipulation of dismissal of the pending lawsuit, along with a settlement agreement with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The settlement resolves all matters related to the case brought by the Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics. This lawsuit was filed in November 2008 and challenged the issuance of Notices to Proceed for development of reserved and outstanding oil and gas resources within the Allegheny NF.
In summary, the settlement filed with the Court, includes the processing of 54 pending oil and gas proposals for a total of 588 wells, 2 pipelines, and one seismic line following current procedures. All remaining pending oil and gas proposals, and all future proposals, will be processed after the appropriate level of environmental analysis has been conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
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