Federal Court Ruling- oil and gas companies can begin drilling in the Allegheny National Forest

[appleannie1]

A federal appeals court ruled this week that oil and gas companies can begin drilling in the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania. The ruling says that the government only controls the surface rights in the national forest, not the mineral rights under the surface.

While the ruling only affects the Allegheny National Forest, this could set the stage for opening up drilling in ALL National Forests.


http://signon.org/sign/stop-fracking-in-national?source=mo&id=31555-7984428-SGGcmmx

[StandingInLeftField]

1. This sets a very, very bad precedent

No good, not good at all.

[elleng]

2. Damn.

Would like to see the decision.

[appleannie1]

6. Here is a better article on it

http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/NaturalGas/6507326

[elleng]

7. Thanks for the info, apple;

interesting and 'useful' for the legal-beagles among us. Its essentially a decision based on 'procedure,' NOT substance.

'The appeals court agreed with the lower court in finding that the Forest Service's NEPA settlement constituted a change in federal policy and the service had not allowed the mineral rights owners to participate in the rule-making allowing the change.'

[tblue]

3. Oh for crying out loud!!!

Everything is about money. Every damn thing.

[Champion Jack]

4. This is very, very bad

[zeaper]

5. News Flash-There has been drilling going on in National Forests since there were National Forests

This is nothing new folks.

[Kolesar]

8. This means they don't have to file and Environmental Impact Statement

Which is a requirement of the (very important) National Environmental Policy Act).
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Environmental_Policy_Act

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a United States environmental law that established a U.S. national policy promoting the enhancement of the environment and also established the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

NEPA's most significant effect was to set up procedural requirements for all federal government agencies to prepare Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs). EAs and EISs contain statements of the environmental effects of proposed federal agency actions.<1> NEPA’s procedural requirements apply to all federal agencies in the executive branch. NEPA does not apply to the President, to Congress, or to the federal courts.<2>

[swilton]

9. Occupy Wall Street and other protests could not happen

soon enough..This is criminal....who benefits from this rape and pillage of national treasures? Not the little people.

[43to42]

10. God I Hate

All those personal property rights...... Utopia destroyed by greed......

[mahina]

11. horrendous!

What can we do to stop this?

Not right!