George Washington National Forest (VA)
A Long-Range Vision for Our Public Lands
Horizontal Drilling Ban Would Limit Fracking
Responding to serious concerns raised by SELC and many others, the U.S. Forest Service has proposed prohibiting horizontal drilling on any federal lands leased in the future for oil or gas production in Virginia’s George Washington National Forest. SELC applauds this move, which is included in a draft long-range management plan for the forest released in May 2011.
The proposed ban on horizontal drilling would curb high-volume hydraulic fracturing—or “fracking”—to extract natural gas from shale deposits under the forest and would help protect streams and aquifers that provide drinking water for more than 260,000 people in and around the Shenandoah Valley.
Shaping the Forest Management Plan. The proposed horizontal drilling ban is the result of a draft environmental study conducted in conjunction with the draft revised management plan. As the Forest Service developed the draft plan over the past three years, SELC submitted several rounds of extensive recommendations for improving it, including a call to keep fracking in check. Three counties and two cities in the Shenandoah Valley—as well as many local citizens and other conservation groups—made similar requests, voicing concerns about risks to water quality, recreation, wildlife habitat, and other resources.
Risks to the Forest Remain. We are now analyzing the plan to make sure other resource-extraction techniques are not allowed to endanger sensitive natural assets. For example, the draft plan proposes to permit vertical drilling for oil and gas almost anywhere in the national forest. Vertical wells are often fracked, too, and can have adverse impacts similar to horizontal wells, although usually to a lesser degree. SELC is urging the Forest Service to conduct a more thorough study of the effects of vertical drilling before making a decision. At a minimum, the agency should prohibit gas leasing and drilling in watersheds supplying local drinking water; other priority watersheds and special biological areas identified by the Forest Service; and other places valued for their natural, scenic, and recreational treasures.
Make Your Voice Heard. The draft plan and environmental study are currently available for public comment. Comments must be submitted by September 1 via email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or by mail to George Washington Plan Revision, George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, 5162 Valleypointe Parkway, Roanoke, VA 24019. More information and the draft documents are available on the Forest Service website.
Case Summary
The George Washington National Forest in western Virginia has been a favorite destination for generations of outdoor enthusiasts, from hikers and campers to hunters and horsemen. These public lands are also a haven for wildlife such as black bear, songbirds, native brook trout and many other species, and are the source of clean drinking water and economic benefit for dozens of communities.
SELC's first case in 1986 involved protecting these vital resources on the forest, a commitment that endures to this day.
A New Plan for the National Forest
The George Washington National Forest (GW) is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, which is in the process of revising the long-term management plan for the 1.1 million-acre forest--the largest national forest east of the Mississippi. This plan will guide virtually all activity on the forest for the next decade, or longer.
In the past, the agency has focused on commercial logging and road-building, which too often damage natural resources such as pure mountain streams, scenic views and habitat for vulnerable wildlife. Unfortunately, the agency's initial outline for the new GW plan would continue on this track.
A majority of Virginians favor environmental protection versus resource extraction on our national forests. The management plan revision for the GW presents a rare opportunity for SELC and the public to tell the agency we want our national forest managed responsibly to ensure that we enjoy all the benefits of these public lands, and leave a healthy forest for future generations.
A Coalition Protecting the Forest for the Future
The Southern Environmental Law Center and a coalition of forest-protection groups are working to persuade the Forest Service to put stronger environmental protections in place for the GW. The coalition’s vision for the future of the GW includes clean water, diverse wildlife habitat, old-growth forests and remote, wild areas, as well as prime recreation spots. SELC will be involved at every step to ensure the final plan reflects to these values.
More background on this case:
George Washington National Forest (VA): Background >>