Talladega National Forest could soon be open to natural gas drilling | News

The federal government plans to soon auction off rights to oil and natural gas drilling in the Talladega Natural Forest. And at least one nearby resident isn't happy about it.

Patty Duran lives in the Clay County community of Delta, and says she has the forest in her backyard. She has lived on that property since 1969.

She called the public comment line on Tuesday, which as it turns out was the last day allowable for public input into the process.

"Our concern was, I've got six grandchildren. And all my children and us, live here on the property. And we all drink from the well. And I want to know if it was going to be close to our house," Duran told Fox6 News.

She was especially concerned after watching a late night documentary on TV about the controversial "fracking" process. Critics say the process of fracturing an underground layer of rock as part of the drilling, contaminates groundwater and well water. Duran says she gets most of her water from a 180-foot well.

In the documentary, someone is seen taking a match to water running from a faucet and causing a large flame.

"I saw where that woman went to her sink, and she lit a match, and it blew up. And I'm like, I don't want that in my water. You know, I drink that water. My kids drink that water."

Kevin Flynn, the southeast chief of external affairs for the U. S. Bureau of Land Management, tells Fox6 News the auction is still scheduled to proceed June 15th. He says the BLM has 60 days to decide whether or not to cancel it, or whether or not to add additional rules to the bidders and winners.

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