The Allegheny County, Pa., Airport Authority is requesting bids from companies interested in natural gas drilling on nearly 10,000 acres of Marcellus Shale land at Pittsburgh International and Allegheny County airports.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the authority advertised for bids on Sept. 19. The deadline is Dec. 5.
"We think that this is a good time for the Airport authority and Allegheny County to explore what options are available to us and how it may benefit county taxpayers," County Executive Rich Fitzgerald told the newspaper.
Allegheny tried to engage companies in gas drilling a few years ago, but plans were set aside after the financial markets imploded.
According to bid documents, the authority seeks an 18% royalty on all oil, gas and liquid hydrocarbons produced.
