Share: 

homepage - naturalgas - rulemaking - forest service mineral rights reform

Forest Service Mineral Rights Reform

Current Status:

Comment Period Closed

Jursidiction

National - U.S. Forest Service

Summary

Private mineral rights underlying national forests can cause major land management problems unless drilling is well-regulated. Spills and open drilling pits on the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania, for instance, have done major damage to forest resources. The National Forest Service is considering updating its rules to address these issues.

Updates

On February 25, 2009, the Sierra Club submitted comments emphasizing the damage caused by unregulated drilling and calling for the Service to follow its legal mandate to comprehensively analyze and control these impacts.

On December 28, 2008, the Forest Service asked for comments on how it should revise its private mineral rights rules to better protect forest resources.

Keywords

National Forest Service, drilling, land use

Comment Deadline

2009.2.25

RELATED DOCUMENTS & OTHER INFO