BLM drops Monongahela forest land from lease sale March 18, 2010 2:21 PM
ELKINS, W.Va.
Two parcels in the Monongahela National Forest have been dropped from a federal oil and gas lease sale.
Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Davida Carnahan says the U.S. Forest Service withdrew permission to include the parcels in Thursday's sale.
A Monongahela National Forest spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Nine environmental groups, including the Wilderness Society and the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, had asked the BLM not to include the properties. Among other things, they claimed drilling would harm the area's wilderness character and affect endangered bats.
The parcels include 2,480 acres in Randolph County and 1,917 acres in Pendleton County
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