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May 7, 2005Drilling appeals tossedBureau of Land Management appeals nextByRecord-Eagle staff writer GRAYLING - The U.S. Forest Service reaffirmed its decision to allow natural gas drilling near the Mason Tract, despite appeals from advocacy groups and individuals. The federal agency denied five of six appeals Thursday and dismissed the sixth. The appeals challenged the government's information on noise, odor and pollution, as well as effects on recreation in the popular canoe and fly-fishing area. "We're not surprised. We're disappointed," said Lance Weyeneth of Anglers of the AuSable, one of the groups opposed to exploratory drilling in the preserve. The Mason Tract is a 5,300-acre natural area along the South Branch of the AuSable River, 15 miles east of Grayling. It was donated to the state as a wilderness preserve in 1954 upon the death of auto executive George Mason. Savoy Exploration of Traverse City leased the federal rights to subsurface minerals there in the 1990s. It plans to slant drill beneath the Mason Tract from a nearby location on federal land. A pipeline and production facility would be installed if gas is found. Leanne Marten, forest supervisor for the Huron-Manistee National Forest, approved in January the company's plans to explore for natural gas. She said the drilling would not significantly impact the Mason Tract, nor pollute the nearby river. The Mackinac Chapter of the Sierra Club, Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited and Anglers of the AuSable appealed, as did Tim Mason of Chicago. The appeal filed by Mason, grandson of George Mason, was dismissed because he did not first file comments with the forest service, a required process for the bureaucracy. "This thing is feeling more and more like a rubber-stamp situation," Mason said. The Mason family will now appeal to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, he said. Savoy still requires a drilling permit from that agency. Forest Service spokesman Ken Arbogast said the appeal process affirmed Marten's decision to allow the drilling and issues raised in the appeals were previously addressed. Savoy officials declined comment on Friday.
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