Arkansas's National Forest is Approved for 1,730 more Gas Wells...What are they thinking?

Judith Henry, Forest Supervisor for the Ozark St Francis National Forest has accepted a revised forecast from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for development of fractured shale gas wells on National Forest lands in Arkansas. The revised forecast would allow the drilling of up to 1,730 more gas wells on National Forests in Arkansas, including the Ozark St Francis. Supervisor Henry failed to provide an environmental impact study with the decision. Instead, she is allowing an in-house staff analysis to substitute for a broader, in depth, scientific analysis required under the National Environmental Protection  

Act (NEPA). This acceptance letter for the revised forecast to drill 1 ,730 more gas wells in our Arkansas National Forests is not acceptable to Arkansans.  We need to let Judith Henry know that we do not approve of the destruction of our National Forest in Arkansas through gas drilling/fracking.  They grossly understate the number of acres of impact this will have.  In her letter Henry states that  "these will be small, 2 to 7 acres disturbance areas each lasting from several weeks to several months before being reclaimed."  What she doesn't tell you is the pads now are around ten acres with frack pits larger than a football field.  Additionally, she doesn't inform the public of the tremendous acreage that will be deforested to run gas pipelines to connect to every gas well to deliver this resource out of our state.  This scarring will last for years, not months.  The impact on the ecosystem for wildlife is catastrophic as seen in examples where drilling has taken place on other national lands such as the Jonah Fields in Wyoming.  Compressor Stations, dehydration units, condensate tanks, frack pits all deliver deadly toxins into the air, thereby affecting wildlife.  Water resources would be severely diminished through the use of millions of gallons of freshwater that is injected into the shale layer with upwards over 50 percent of this water  lost to the water cycle forever.  In addition, the heavy truck traffic and machinery noise will be extremely destructive to wildlife. 

She also says the land will be reclaimed in months...How do reclaim mature trees in months?  Also, the AOGC allows the burial of frack pit sludge "in situ" or "on site."   Is this part of the reclamation process in the National Forest?   Also, the dehydration units and condensate tanks stay there for the life of the gas well, spewing the toxins forth.  So how does months factor into this?  Then let's be honest and say -  years....and if they destroy the aquifer through contamination, you might just change that to - forever.

Allegheny National Forest Project

Additionally, Arkansas is known world wide as the Natural State.  What kind of hunting, fishing, recreation can be enjoyed in our national forests if we turn them into a gasfield.  Make no mistake, hunting will be toxic.  Deer and other wildlife are attracted to the salt in the toxic (sometimes radioactive) produced water pits, or frack pits.  Negative impacts on wildlife and multi-purpose use of the forests have been noted, including the decline in animal populations.

Please everyone...no matter what state or country you are from...Please let know the people do not approve of this plan and you demand a moratorium on new gas wells in the National Forest.  This is public land that belongs to YOU...the PEOPLE!

Judith Henry
605 West Main St
Rusellville, AR, 72801
479-964-7200
jhenry01@fs.fed.us