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Permalink Reply by searcherone on May 27, 2016 at 11:12am

Debbie, perhaps you do not know that there are federal lands in SE Ohio bordering private owned lands that have been held up for drilling for several years.   Time to get moving on that drilling.

  So, YES, drill on federal lands and the development of oil and gas on federal lands is part of the USA energy policy.

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Permalink Reply by Debra Lynn Pennell on May 27, 2016 at 11:19am

I did not know that about Ohio and I am sure it applies to others in other states. I do not wish to see anyone's drilling held up. I am a mineral owner and have been leased for 3 years with no drilling. I am as anxious as anyone to see drilling happen. I just believe we need to preserve our National parks. If drilling can be done without harming them, I am all for it! Debbie

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Permalink Reply by searcherone on May 27, 2016 at 1:54pm

There is a difference between National Parks,  wildernesses areas, and national forests.  National Parks and wilderness areas are much more protected and have more restrictions.

Also there are two departments of government involved with federal lands  the Department of the Interior  and the Department of Agriculture.    While the Bureau of Land Management in the Interior Department oversees all the leasing of all federal lands,   the National forests are under the Department of Agriculture and  the national forests  are managed  for the production of timber  and also the managing of oil and gas production.as well as recreational purposes.     Some times the public thinks national forests are national parks and they are not.

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Permalink Reply by Debra Lynn Pennell on May 27, 2016 at 3:45pm

Thanks for the clarification!

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Permalink Reply by Becky on June 1, 2016 at 12:46am

Good explanation! 

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Mosley on May 27, 2016 at 1:55pm

Debbie, I agree with you. In a way, it would be the government competing with private enterprise if the Mineral owner as well as the surface owner is the government.

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Permalink Reply by Jack Young on May 27, 2016 at 2:47pm

But when drilling is done on federal land every citizen benefits financially, and that helps generate support for drilling. There aren't enough people with oil and gas rights in the major shale fields to win any elections, so any effort to limit drilling on federal lands would backfire. You need to remember - royalty holders with any real stake in the game are a very small minority in this country.

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