Coalition condemns Forest Service recreation proposals - July 2, 2008 A coalition of recreation and environmental groups is condemning the Forest Service's recommendations in a recent assessment of its recreation infrastructure in the Allegheny National Forest. The Forest Service recommendations include closing campgrounds at Beaver Meadows in Forest County and Tracy Ridge in McKean County. Read more...

ADP Intervenes in Oil and Gas Lawsuit to Defend Allegheny National Forest - June 23, 2008 The Allegheny Defense Project has intervened in a lawsuit filed against the U.S. Forest Service by Duhring Resources and the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association. Read more...

Sign Petition to save Rimrock from oil and gas drilling! - June 17, 2008 Join a local coalition of citizens to send a message to the Forest Servcie to protect this scenic overlook and picnic area from being destroyed by oil and gas drilling. Read more...

Oil, gas and timber special interest groups file second lawsuit in six months against Allegheny National Forest management - June 17, 2008 Industry groups trying to derail regulation of oil and gas drilling in Pennsylvania's only national forest. Read more...

ADP wants info; Drillers file lawsuit; Forest Service caught in the middle - June 10, 2008 An environmental group has filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain Forest Service documentation pertaining to oil and gas drilling regulation while oil, gas, and timber groups file a lawsuit against the Forest Service. Read more...

Battle over access to mineral rights could be decided in courtroom - June 10, 2008 Oil and timber groups file lawsuit claiming Forest Service violated federal law in development of 2007 forest plan. Read more...

ADP files FOIA request for Forest Service's alleged oil and gas drilling environmental analysis documents - June 9, 2008 ADP files Freedom of Information Act request to obtain documents to determine if the Forest Service is (or is not) conducting environmental analysis on private oil and gas drilling and properly including the public in the decision-making process. Read more...

Industry groups sue over forest plan - June 8, 2008 The Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association and the Allegheny Forest Alliance, a timber industry lobbying group, have filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service over the oil and gas section of the forest plan and the withdrawal of the South Branch Kinzua Creek timber sale that ADP successfully appealed in April. Read more...

USFS working on reply to ADP - June 4, 2008 The Warren Times Observer reports on how the Forest Service is planning to respond to ADP about its failure to conduct environmental analysis with public comment on private oil and gas drilling in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act. Read more...

Turning up the heat - May 30, 2008 The Warren Times Observer reports on ADP turning up the heat on the U.S. Forest Service after learning that a number of other national forests require environmental assessments prior to oil and gas drilling. Read more...

Enviro group seeks halt to drilling in Allegheny National Forest - May 29, 2008 The Land Letter reports on how oil and gas drilling in the Allegheny does not follow the same regulations that govern other Forest Servie lands in other parts of the country. Read more...

ADP says USFS using double standard - May 27, 2008 The Warren Times Observer reports on the Allegheny National Forests's failure to regulate private oil and gas drilling despite the fact that other national forests do just that. Read more...

Forest Service disregards federal law to avoid regulating oil and gas drilling - May 22, 2008 The Forest Service has long held that private oil and gas drilling in the Allegheny is not subject to environmental analysis and public comment. The Ottawa National Forest proves otherwise. Read more...

Battle continues over logging, drilling on ANF - May 21, 2008 The battle over logging and oil and gas drilling on the Allegheny National Forest has been stepped up a notch, as the Allegheny Defense Project is calling on the U.S. Forest Service to refrain from logging operations that have been approved since the new forest management plan went into effect in February. Read more...

ADP calls on Forest Service to withdraw timber sales - May 16, 2008 The Allegheny Defense Project is calling on the Forest Service to withdraw timber sales prepared under the 2007 Forest Plan until the agency complies with the Forest Service Chief's orders the Forest Plan's deficiencies. Read more...

TAKE ACTION: Tell Forest Service to cancel Tract 13 federal oil and gas lease to PGE - May 9, 2008 The Forest Service wants to lease 101 acres of federal minerals to PGE for drilling 6 oil and gas wells in the Salmon Creek watershed. Read more...

Forest Service withdraws South Branch Kinzua Creek timber sale - April 29, 2008 ADP appealed project for failure to comply with forest plan. Read more...

Drilling Dilemma in Pennsylvania State Forests - April 27, 2008 The Harrisburg Patriot News published two op-eds in a "point-counterpoint" series regarding Gov. Rendell's lifting of a moratorium on oil and gas drilling in Pennsylvania's state forests. Read more...

Rimrock hike and picnic - April 27, 2008 Join Allegheny Outdoor Adventures and Allegheny Defense Project for a hike and picnic at the scenic Rimrock Overlook. Read more...

Forest Service violates Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law - April 24, 2008 The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issues "notice of violation" for Forest Service's failure to obtain sewer system permits for at least three facilities in the Allegheny National Forest. Read more...

TAKE ACTION - April 22, 2008 Tell Forest Service to withdraw misguided Mead's Mill project and instead take steps to restore this areas forests and watersheds. Read more...

Rimrock hike and picnic - April 20, 2008 Join Allegheny Outdoor Adventures and Allegheny Defense Project for a hike and picnic at the scenic Rimrock Overlook. Read more...

Allegheny Front Environmental Radio reports on gas drilling in state forests - April 9, 2008 Gov. Rendell's Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources lifts ban to allow more gas drilling on Pennsylvania's public forestlands. Read more...

Forest Service evades environmental laws to lease federal minerals - April 9, 2008 Forest Service exempts leasing proposal from traditional environmental analysis and public comment citing new authority granted under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Read more...

Oil company tell public that Rimrock is "going to get drilled" - April 7, 2008 Darryl Pierce, secretary and treasurer of PAPCO, says "there shouldn't be the controversy there is" about its plans to drill oil and gas wells around one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Allegheny National Forest. Read more...

Gas drilling to resume on state forests - April 2, 2008 The ban on drilling started in 2003 and was one of the latest battles between the oil and gas industry, the government and environmentalists, who believe the ruling flies in the face of the Rendell administration's Pennsylvania Wilds Initiative. Read more...

DCNR surrenders to oil and gas industry demands - April 1, 2008 The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has lifted a ban on shallow oil and gas drilling in Pennsylvania's state forests. DCNR is also considering leasing state forest land for deep gas well drilling. Read more...

Take Action - Tell Forest Service to Protect Rimrock Scenic Overlook - March 31, 2008 The Forest Service is considering a proposal that would allow at least one oil company to start drilling oil and gas wells at one of the Allegheny National Forest's most scenic and popular tourist destinations. Read more...

ADP appeals South Branch Kinzua Creek logging and drilling project - March 26, 2008 The Forest Service proposal threatens South Branch Kinzua Creek, one of the only Wilderness Trout Streams in the Allegheny National Forest. Read more...

Stone Pit Expansion Project slideshow - February 26, 2008 Check out ADP's latest slideshow regarding the Forest Service's proposal to give away stone from the Allegheny to oil and gas companies. Read more...

Forest Feedback: Allegheny's management plan gets a hard look - February 25, 2008 Rad the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's editorial on the recent forest plan appeal decision. Read more...

Documents reveal Forest Service proposal to give public resources to oil and gas companies - February 25, 2008 A Forest Service proposal to expand several stone pits in the Allegheny National Forest for "public and private road development" continues to draw criticism. Read more...

Forest Service asks for changes to Allegheny Forest plan - February 22, 2008 The U.S. Forest Service told Allegheny National Forest to redo parts of its management plan to clarify its authority to manage oil and gas drilling and because the plan does not take into account drilling's effect on air quality. Read more...

U.S. calls for changes to forest drilling plan - February 22, 2008 The U.S. Forest Service has ordered the Allegheny National Forest to redo the controversial oil and natural gas drilling sections of its 10-year management plan, saying the plan fails to assess teh cumulative effects of the drilling and does not comply with federal law. Read more...

Allegheny Forest Plan "Does Not Fully Comply" with Federal Law - February 21, 2008 The Washington Office of the US Forest Service tells local Forest Service officials that the new forest plan does not fully comply with federal law and lacked sufficient public participation opportunities. Read more...

TAKE ACTION! Stop Forest Service's Corporate Welfare for Oil and Gas Industry - February 18, 2008 Oil and gas companies want free stones from the Allegheny National Forest for their private road construction to facilitate more drilling. Take action to stop the Forest Service from actually meeting the oil and gas industry's demands. Read more...

Forest Service proposes to give away public resources to oil and gas industry - February 13, 2008 Forest Service proposes expanding eight stone pits so it can give away public resources for private road construction. Oil and gas companies are the dominant private road developrs on the Allegheny National Forest. Read more...

Timberline ATV Trail relocation will not protect timber rattlesnakes - January 16, 2008 Forest Service proposal does little to protect timber rattlesnakes and will have greater impacts on Red Lick Run, a high-quality, cold-water fishery. Read more...

Allegheny Front Environmental Radio reports on status of forest plan for Allegheny National Forest - January 16, 2008 Allegheny Front Environmental Radio reported today on the status of the new management plan for the Allegheny National Forest. Read more...

TAKE ACTION! Protect timber rattlesnakes from ATV's - January 15, 2008 The Forest Service is proposing to relocate a portion of the Timberline ATV trail to protect timber rattlesnakes, but the proposal would do little if anything to actually protect this sensitive species. Read more...

Forest Service halts Minard Run Oil Company drilling project in Allegheny National Forest - September 15, 2007 Minard Run started cutting trees for road construction and well site clearing before the Forest Service approved the company's development plan. Read more...

TAKE ACTION! Defend Pennsylvania's State Forests from Oil and Gas Drilling! - September 14, 2007 Tell the DCNR that Pennsylvania's State Forests are too important for clean water, wildlife habitat, and recreation to be turned over to the oil and gas industry. Read more...

14th Annual Forest Defenders Gathering - September 14-16, 2007 Campout in Allegheny National Forest, Work to Defend the Forest, Hike Allegheny Wilderness, Lessons in Rock Climbing, Rappelling, and Caving, Learn about Logging, Oil & Gas Drilling. Photos of the Fall Gathering...

Roads to Infinity: Oil and Gas Assaults the Allegheny - September 12, 2007 Wildlands Center for the Prevention of Roads features the oil and gas drilling crisis in its Autumn issue of the Road-RIPorter. Read more...

DCNR considers lifting moratorium on shallow oil and gas leasing on state lands - September 11, 2007 The DCNR imposed a moratorium on leasing state lands for shallow oil and gas drilling in 2003. Now, due to rising energy prices and increased industry pressure, the DCNR is proposing to make state lands available for drilling. Read more...

Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics reports on oil and gas drilling in Allegheny - August 22 , 2007 National organization of current, former, and retired Forest Service officials call oil and gas drilling in the Allegheny a "blight on the land" in their Fall 2007 issue of Forest Magazine. Read more...

Allegheny Defense Project partners with LightHawk and Presque Isle Audubon to document oil and gas drilling - August, 17 2007 The environmental non-profit aviation organization LightHawk recently flew members of the Allegheny Defense Project and Presque Isle Audubon over the Allegheny National Forest to document the five "Most Threatened Landscapes." Read more...

Forest Service proposes leasing mineral rights it owns in Salmon Creek, one of the "Most Threatened Landscapes" in the Allegheny - July 24, 2007 The Forest Service proposal is based on outdated environmental analysis from over 20 years ago. Please take action to protect this "threatened landscape." Read more...

Groups Appeal Forest Service Management Plan for the Allegheny National Forest - July 2, 2007 A coalition of groups and individuals has appealed the Forest Service's revised management plan for the Allegheny National Forest. The coalition says the revised plan does not reflect the public's values or desires for more recreation and protection of public resources. Read more...

Forest Service identifies "Most Threatened Landscapes" - June 14, 2007 In 2005, the Forest Service compiled a list of "Most Threatened" and "Potentially Threatened" Landscapes in the Allegheny National Forest. Most of these areas are threatened as a result of oil and gas drilling. The Forest Service withheld this information from the public throughout the Forest Plan Revision process. Read more...

Allegheny National Forest Slideshows - May 29, 2007 New slideshows further document the impacts of oil and gas drilling on Pennsylvania's only national forest. Read more...

Document Reveals Concerns about Oil and Gas Drilling - April 18, 2007 A 2003 letter from the Warren County Conservation District to the EPA reveals concerns about exempting oil and gas drilling from erosion and sedimentation control permit requirements. Read more...

Allegheny Defense Project's Aerial Monitoring Takes Off - April 12, 2007 Recent flyover of the Allegheny National Forest reveals massive impact of oil and gas drilling in the Allegheny National Forest. Read more...

North Country Trail Used as Oil and Gas Road - April 9, 2007 Howard Drilling recently used a segment of the North Country Trail near Red Bridge as their private oil and gas road. Check out this slideshow documenting the destruction of this National Scenic Trail. Read more...

New Allegheny National Forest Plan Out of Balance - April 1, 2007 Forest Service states in the Final EIS for the plan, "those seeking a more remote and less devloped recreation experience could be displaced to other State or National Forests..." Read more...

Forest Service files objections to oil and gas wells - March 27, 2007 Forest Service cites impacts to recreation opportunities in the Allegheny National Forest justify objecting to these wells. Read more...

Oil and gas drilling from the air - February 27, 2007 See the effects of oil and gas drilling from a recent flight over the Allegheny National Forest. Read more...

Hellbender Chronicles Updated - January 2, 2007 The Allegheny Front National Recreation Area is threatened. You can watch a slideshow of the action by visiting our new, revised Hellbender Chronicles. Read more...

Allegheny National Forest Roadless Areas Threatened - November 1, 2006 The US Forest Service has revived plans to construct roads and conduct clearcut logging activities within three Allegheny National Forest roadless areas. Read more...

13th Annual Forest Defenders Gathering - September 15-17, 2006 Campout in Allegheny National Forest, Work to Defend the Forest, Hike Allegheny Wilderness, Lessons in Fly Fishing, Geocaching, and Caving, Learn about Logging, Oil & Gas Drilling. More Info on the Gathering...

HIKE: From Magnificence to MisManagement and Back Again - June 24th, 2006 Join the Allegheny Defense Project on Saturday, June 24, for an exploration of the wild Allegheny Forests - and the abuse of America's most endangered national forest. More Info on the Hike...

See photos of Oil Development that Threatens Allegheny National Forest...

Allegheny National Forest Endangered - June 5th, 2006 The US Forest Service's proposed management plan for the Allegheny National Forest would ensure two more decades of management for extraction industries at the public expense. Read our Fact Sheet...

Allegheny National Forest DRAFT Management Plan Released- 2006 In 1986, the Forest Service adopted the current management plan declaring that the assumptions therein were valid for only ten years. A DRAFT of a new forest plan has been released - and it doesn't appear that they have bothered to update those assumptions. Logging, Oil & Gas Drilling, and ATVs still dominate the management of a national forest created for watershed protection. Be sure to check back for updates...