"George Washington National Forest is more than just one of the largest expanses of pristine land in the East. It’s the leafy cradle of the Shenandoah, James and Potomac rivers, a source of drinking water for millions of people in greater Washington."
"The forest — nearly 2 million acres of natural splendor straddling Virginia and West Virginia — might also hold another treasure: natural gas trapped under a deep layer of rock called the Marcellus Shale.
By the end of the month, the U.S. Forest Service is expected to decide whether to ban or allow the controversial method of drilling called hydraulic fracturing under the forest’s new, 15-year management plan. The decision will settle a raging dispute between conservationists and the oil and gas industry."
Darryl Fears reports for the Washington Post September 7, 2013.
SEE ALSO:
"Fracking Limits for Virginia Forest Spark Debate on Water" (Bloomberg)
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