In a recently filed protest letter to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, The Buckeye Forest Council alluded to the fact that there are hundreds more acres of land available for leasing in the Wayne National Forest.
The sales of gas and oil leases are on five parcels of land in the forest, totaling 3,320 acres of land in Athens, Perry and Gallia counties, according to the letter.
The leases to the land will be up for sale to gas and oil companies, who are expected to use the land for hydraulic fracturing, at a December acution to be held in Springfield, Va.
In previous letters of protest from Athens City Council and Ohio University President Roderick McDavis, the acre total was assumed to be 2,623.
In addition to council’s protest, other environmental groups submitted formal protests alleging violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and the National Forest Management Act.
The Athens County Commissioners, Athens City administration, Athens Conservancy and Hocking River Commission have also publicly protested the potential lease sales.
