Allegheny National Forest drilling suit settled

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service will review and allow public comment on gas and oil drilling projects in the Allegheny National Forest under a settlement reached with environmental groups.

The groups claimed in a federal lawsuit that the Forest Service was not conducting required federal environmental reviews on several dozen drilling projects, thus potentially jeopardizing the environment and wildlife in Pennsylvania’s only national forest.

The 800-square-mile forest lies in Elk, Forest, McKean and Warren counties. While the federal government owns the surface, more than 90 percent of the mineral rights that lie underground are privately owned. The government did not buy the mineral rights when the forest was created nearly 90 years ago.

Disputes over whether the Forest Service can regulate drilling have led to several other lawsuits recently as demand for oil has spurred drilling in the Allegheny.

Pending suits brought by gas and oil interests claim the Forest Service cannot regulate drillers.

The Forest Service estimates some 11,000 to 12,000 oil and gas wells are in production in the Allegheny.