Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Drilling Can Continue on ANF A federal judge has denied the motions for reconsideration by the US Forest on a decision that allowed drilling to continue on the Allegheny National Forest. Judge Sean McLaughlin today reconfirmed his decision of December 15, 2009, to lift the ban on drilling permits. Craig Mayer, chairman of the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association ANF Committee, said, “This decision means the December 15th order remains fully in effect. In addition, the judge clarified that in the event the Forest Service and the drillers can’t come to an agreement regarding a requirement for an accommodation from the Forest Service, it will be incumbent on the Forest Service to seek injunctive relief by going to Federal Court.” “The Judge recognized the firm legal basis under which producers have been exercising their right to access their subsurface property for more than 85 years," said Congressman Glenn Thompson. “The local producers have been monitored diligently by the State D...

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Representative Glenn `GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, today issued the following statement after Judge Sean McLaughlin of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania issued an injunction lifting the ban on drilling permits in the Allegheny National Forest: “I’ve had confidence all along in the State’s ability to take care of the environment in the Allegheny National Forest—confidence in the local industry and the citizens of the four-county area, who have been exceptional stewards of the environment for decades. “The local stakeholders have taken care of the Forest for 86 years with the State Department of Environmental Protection providing some of the best enforcement in the Nation. It looks as if the Judge agreed the Commonwealth does not need outside environmental groups to come in and tell them how to do things. “This ruling allows companies to bring their employees back to work and plan for the future. The decision by the U.S. Forest Service t...

Warren County and the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association have filed a lawsuit against the US Forest Service and environmental groups over drilling regulations in the Allegheny National Forest. The suit filed today in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh claims that Forest Service will harm drillers by requiring lengthy reviews of private drilling projects. A recent settlement between the Forest Service and several environmental groups stipulates that future notices to proceed issued to drillers by the forest service be held up pending completion of requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. While the federal government owns the surface, more than 90 percent of the rights to underground minerals are privately owned.

Commenting on remarks by State Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati regarding the support of Marcellus Shale natural gas development, the Marcellus Shale Committee, the Independent Oil and Gas Association of Pennsylvania (IOGA), and the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association (POGAM) issued the following statement today: "We applaud Senator Scarnati and the other elected leaders from both political parties who understand the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity we have to strengthen our Commonwealth's economy and energy independence by supporting the development of the Marcellus Shale, including their public remarks rejecting unnecessary new forms of taxation." "The development of the Marcellus Shale is not a partisan issue, but an opportunity embraced by people throughout Pennsylvania. We can only begin to understand the potential of the Marcellus when we appreciate the impact of the Barnett Shale in northeast Texas. Through a collaborative approach from the natural gas ind...