Allegheny National Forest rangers held a final public comment
meeting Tuesday in Bradford before a decision is made regarding oil
and gas drilling issues in the forest.

This meeting, held at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s
Frame-Westerburg Commons building, was the third in a series of
three opportunities for local residents to comment on the
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement draft for privately
owned oil and gas development on the forest. The statement would
augment the 2007 Forest Plan, a long-term management strategy for
the Allegheny, and define forest officials’ role in oil and gas
drilling in the 513,000-acre area.

Since January, all oil and gas drilling in the forest has been
halted due to legal issues while the Environmental Impact Statement
is prepared. Oil and gas representatives are challenging an April
settlement between the Forest Service and environmental groups
which temporarily halted oil and gas drilling in the forest until
the assessment is finished.

The rangers are trying to finish an analysis for drilling
proposals not grandfathered in under April’s settlement. Those 58
outstanding proposals will be governed by the 1986 Forest Plan
rules.

For other proposals, environmental reviews must be conducted
prior to drilling, which critics of the move say could halt
drilling for more than a year.

Tuesday’s meeting saw less than 20 visitors, a significant
decrease from the rangers’ last two public comment meetings in
Bradford.

Since the last Bradford meeting, officials have narrowed their
focus down to three significant issues with the move: water
quality; visual resources and reclamation.

Meanwhile, Bill Belitskus, president of the Allegheny Defense
Project, expressed worries about a decline in species viability in
the drilling areas.

Forest Supervisor Leanne Marten replied that species viability
rides on which of four alternatives ends up being selected – some
species could see a decline, while others may not, depending on the
alternative she selects. She referred him to the draft statement
for specifics on the possible species declines.

Marten’s preferred alternative includes standards and guidelines
that define more specifically private oil and gas development in
the forest. Marten has said this route provides the most equal
consideration possible for economic, environmental and other
important factors.

The 90-day public comment period ends Oct. 30, and a final
decision will be made in December. Citizens can still send comments
to forest officials by mail, e-mail or other means.

Marten has the final say in what the impact statement will
say.

“You can appeal this project (after it is passed), which could
take it to the next level to the regional forester,” she noted.