Officials concerned about drilling in Ohio forest

ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — Concern over a natural gas drilling technique has southeast Ohio officials opposing a plan to auction leases for gas and oil development in the state’s only national forest.

The Athens Messenger reports Athens County Commissioners fear a fracking accident could harm the environment in the Wayne National Forest. The commissioners are sending a protest letter to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and so is the city of Athens.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, uses chemical-laced water to break up shale deep underground and release gas trapped in the rock.

The bureau plans to begin an auction Dec. 7 to sell drilling rights for 3,300 acres in the forest.

Forest acting supervisor Gary Willison says he believes most of the wells would not require fracking.