Associated Press - October 26, 2009 4:14 AM ET

ONEIDA, Tenn. (AP) - National Park Service officials are seeking public comment on reclaiming and capping abandoned oil and gas wells at the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

There are about 50 known wells inside the 115,000-acre park, which lies in Tennessee and Kentucky on the northern Cumberland Plateau.

Officials say plugging them is necessary because no owners for them can be found, capping them would help protect natural and cultural resources of the park and plugging them would eliminate a safety risk.

Comments can be sent, until Nov. 13, to the superintendent of Big South Fork in Oneida, Tenn.

On the Net:

Big South Fork NRRA: http://www.nps.gov/biso/index.htm

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