Drilling Company Moves to Force U.S. Forest Service to Allow Water Use

PITTSBURGH - A Pennsylvania drilling consortium has asked a federal judge to enforce a 2009 injunction mandating the method of processing drilling proposals and force the U.S. Forest Service to lift restrictions that are delaying oil and gas development in the Allegheny National Forest. Minard Run Oil Co., et al. v. U.S. Forest Service, et al., No. 1:09-cv-00125-SJM (W.D. Pa.).

The Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association and other parties filed the motion to compel on July 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, which granted injunctive relief sought by the energy companies in 2009.