After conducting an in-house review, Wayne National Forest could partake in an environmental impact study regarding hydraulic fracturing — a precaution that Athens City Council has formally called for.
The review of new information began late in 2011 following a massive response from 48 organizations, all opposing “fracking” in Athens County. After receiving the protest letters, forest officials halted plans to lease 3,000 acres of public land tentatively set aside for drilling purposes.
Since then, Wayne’s interest in leasing that land for drilling might have waned.
“At this time, we don’t have an answer to if we’re going to pursue that or not,” said Gary Chancey, the forest’s public affairs staff officer. “We’re open to reviewing any plans for it, but right now, we’re just taking a look at the current (environmental impact study) to see if there’s anything that needs to be approved.”
No plans for horizontal drilling on Wayne National Forest’s land have been presented, Chancey said, adding that fracking is a type of horizontal drilling that digs deeper into the earth.
There are 1,300 wells at the forest dedicated to vertical drilling, which focuses more on shallow drilling for natural resources.
With the majority of Wayne sitting upstream from the city of Athens, Mayor Paul Wiehl said he would like to avoid potential water contamination and local aquifer disruption.
“Athens isn’t in the primary fracking area,” Wiehl said. “My hope is that (drilling companies) make mistakes elsewhere before drilling comes here.”
Though City Council cannot decide what Wayne does, the resolution passed will hopefully be effective in keeping the forest from allowing fracking on its property, Council President Jim Sands said.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” he said.
Despite the concerns from city officials, Chancey said the forest would see through a new environmental impact study whether it needed to take place.
“I have all the confidence in the world on what they’re doing with the new (review of new information),” Chancey said. “If there’s something that needs to be renewed in the (environmental impact study), that team will find it.”
A decision to have a new environmental impact study will be made by June, he said.
jj360410@ohiou.edu
