COLUMBUS, OH -- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation have reached an agreement to resolve the unauthorized clearing of 282 feet along a pipeline within Mohican State Forest. The unauthorized clearing took place during the week of March 19.
“After careful review of available options, we believe this agreement is in the best interest of one of our most popular and biologically unique state forests,” said David Lytle, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry. “It both adds safeguards against further unauthorized cutting and provides startup funds that will be dedicated to supporting an American chestnut restoration project at Mohican.”
Other provisions include visiting and verifying state boundaries wherever a Columbia pipeline crosses ODNR property and the sharing of current boundary maps.
The agreement includes a $10,000 donation by Columbia Gas to the State of Ohio to assist in establishing an American chestnut nursery at Mohican State Forest. The American chestnut nursery will be developed with the assistance of forest researchers who are seeking to preserve Ohio strains of the American chestnut.
In addition, both Columbia Gas and ODNR agree to resume negotiations on acceptable clearing widths on other pipelines within Mohican State Forest, Mohican State Park and the Clear Fork Gorge State Nature Preserve. These negotiations will conclude by September 3.
“As we enter into negotiations with Columbia Gas to limit the amount of clearing along the 13 miles of natural gas pipelines that bisect Mohican State Forest, our goal will be to limit the potential impact on this valuable natural resource, and at the same time, allow for the safe maintenance of these high-pressure natural gas transmission lines,” said Lytle. “We appreciate the many calls and letters from the public that expressed support for limiting clearing at Mohican State Forest.”
The state began acquiring land to create Mohican State Forest in 1928. In 1952, the state entered into a lease agreement to allow the Ohio Fuel Gas Company (predecessor to Columbia Gas Transmission) to convert existing, privately owned production wells on state lands to gas storage wells. The 1952 lease also allowed the company to create additional gas storage wells at the forest. Currently, 56 natural gas storage wells are located on Mohican State Forest and Park and are connected by more than 13 miles of pipelines.