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March 25, 2005
Logging, Oil & Gas drilling increases in 2004
The 2004 Annual Report is out for the Allegheny National Forest - oil & gas drilling increased over the past year and the amount of timber sold from the forest nearly doubled. Logging itself also increased with over 1,300 acres being clearcut and about 2,400 acres being thinned for future clearcutting.
While this increase is not good to see, it is still well below what the Forest Service (and the timber industry) would like to see. Here's some pics from recent clearcutting and oil & gas drilling in the Little Salmon Creek watershed.
PGE oil well in FR 165 re-entry clearcut.
Another PGE well in FR 165 re-entry clearcut.
This is why we do what we do. This clearcut was part of the FR 165 re-entry timber sale. Pennsylvania General Energy (PGE) continues to degrade the entire Salmon Creek watershed with their intensive oil and gas extraction activities. 321 new oil and gas wells were drilled in 2004, the second highest amount since 1986. It is irresponsible for the Forest Service to ignore the impacts of oil and gas drilling on this National Forest.
These pictures were taken just a few miles north of Marienville, the town I grew up in. It's hard to relate the feelings I had when I stood in that clearcut and saw so many new oil and gas wells and their associated facilities (roads, storage tanks, pipelines, etc.) Corporations have complete control over the Allegheny National Forest. I fear what the Allegheny will look like in 20 years if the current rate of oil and gas drilling continues. Who will want to come to the Allegheny for recreation purposes? Who is going to want to come back to a forest that is full of oil and gas wells and clearcuts to perpetuate black cherry?
Ryan
Posted by Ryan at 02:18 PM | Comments (4)
March 20, 2005
Moving On. Changes and More.
Wow, that layout sucks huh? Don't worry, it is temporary. As in hopefully only two hours temporary.
But this is new. Check it out. Commenting is BACK! But you have to register with Typekey. Typekey is an entirely free, anonymous (unless you don't want to be) system. It allows us to block spam and you to post without worrying about retribution!
Seriously, register now by going to Typekey and do not forget to verify your registration (Typekey will send you an e-mail). Then just click on a thread to comment. It is easy and we'll startup brand new content this week as a reward!
It shouldn't have taken that long to deal with this issue but it is dealt with now so we'll just have to live with it. And remember, we never stop moving to make the Allegheny forever wild and free for all good Americans!
Update: Oh, and if it appears that the blog is changing before your very eyes, you aren't losing it. It is.
Posted by jkleissler at 06:31 PM | Comments (6)