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May 28, 2005Little off-limits to drilling under planCritics want more shieldedByRecord-Eagle staff writer GRAYLING - Oil and gas drilling would be prohibited on just one half of one percent of the 970,000 acres in the Huron-Manistee National Forest, according to a 15-year oil and gas development plan issued by the U.S. Forest Service. Federal standards for leasing mineral rights within national forest land are open for public review through June 20, as part of the proposed Forest Service land management plan. "This is the first time we've done this type of projection for both forests," said Terry Saarela, mineral program manager for the Huron-Manistee National Forest. "Previously we've done on-site specific analysis," she said. She said current drilling restrictions were not changed, though boundaries around two types of scenic trails were extended. No oil or natural gas wells are allowed in wetlands, research natural areas or experimental forests, but that amounts to just 3,380 acres. No wells are allowed on the surface on 21 percent of forest land, but mineral rights to that acreage can be sold for slant drilling from adjacent lands. About 43 percent of the forest is open for drilling but includes wildlife restrictions, such as considerations for the Kirtland's warbler and the Karner Blue Butterfly. That figure includes semi-primitive motorized and non-motorized areas, which have a density restriction of one well per 160 and 640 acres, respectively. Another 35 percent - 345,257 acres - is open for drilling under standard drilling stipulations. Forest boundaries include private, federal and commercial property. The Forest Service expects 194 wells to be drilled, and 139 of them to produce oil or gas. Eighty-eight would be on federal land; 64 of those are expected to produce oil or gas. A quarter of the profits go to area counties and 75 percent to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The Sierra Club criticized the plan. "We don't think they've done a cumulative effects analysis," said Marvin Roberson, forest policy specialist for the Mackinac Chapter of the Sierra Club. "We think it's another example of the Bush administration's eagerness to pull oil and gas exploration above natural resource protection." Conservationists want more than just 3,380 acres protected from drilling, he said. A Forest Service ecologist said the agency has gotten fewer than 1,000 public comments but expects more as the deadline approaches. The plan can be viewed online at: www.fs.fed.us/r9/hmnf or by request at (231) 775-5023, ext. 8734.
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