Pennsylvania's been gaining royalties from gas and oil drilling in state forests for more than fifty years. According to Butch Davey, district forester in Sproul State Forest, opening up natural areas for industrial use is a tricky process.

" We're looking at things like species of concern, any erosion and sedimentation problems, and we're also making sure that it fits in with the rest of our management scheme in the forest."

But according to some environmental groups, there's no guaranteed safe way to drill in forests. Jim Kleissler is with the Allegheny Defense Project, one of the groups opposing the auction.

"These lands that they're targeting have the lowest road densities of any forest lands in the entire state. Taking them and putting oil and gas wells in the middle of them, you're going into these areas where are probably the most important wildlife habitats and recreation areas we have in the state."

The auction taking place this month could open up more than 200-thousand acres of land for drilling. But a coalition of environmental groups is calling for a moratorium on all drilling in state forests until legislation can be passed regulating such operations.

More information is available on the web at GreenWorks.tv. I'm Brad Linder.