Cavechat.org

U.S. Forest Service set to decide on fracking in George Washington National Forest
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/us-forest-service-set-to-decide-on-fracking-in-george-washington-national-forest/2013/09/07/cb7228aa-1644-11e3-a2ec-b47e45e6f8ef_story_1.html

Some serious caves underlie this forest.

We have been trying to "install" language into upcoming legislation in Maryland concerning caves and fracking. We are getting this done but I do not feel it is adequate. Old mine fields (underground) have been included in the "no drill zones". Proposed maps of the areas of "no drill" have recently released. No drilling within 1000 feet of in any karst areas. Wetlands are not to be drilled. If you take all the maps of "no drill areas" and overlay them, there is very little acceptable drilling areas left. I believe WV has karst setback rules for fracking but I am unsure of what the setback is. Also the setback rules of karst areas do not allow for actual known cave passage in most cases. WV is well documented for cave surveys. As for Virginia, I do not know what rules are in place concerning fracking. Has any cave groups been active in this particular fracking issue?

Donnie Carns

Beans Cove Pa

How about some context here: the USFS won't allow a few cavers into the National Forest's caves, but will consider threatening groundwater that potentially serves millions? That same groundwater, if contaminated, could threaten the same caves and bats they're trying to protect. But I expect it's not the Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species biologists who will be making the decision here, as they do for caves/bats, but a different part of the bureaucracy. Any chance they might talk to each other? I'm holding my breath......