Several areas in the Allegheny National Forest in Elk County have been closed due to unsafe conditions caused by hazardous materials and structurally unsound buildings.

The facilities are located in Highland Township in Elk County and are on land used by the American Refining Group. The order was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service earlier this week. Order Number 09-19-26-001 prohibits all members of the public from entering the areas designated in the closure order maps available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/allegheny/alerts/kane-fields-area-closures. The American Refining Group facilities include the Bear Creek, Chaffee, CO2, Highland, Horton, Lamont, Weaver and Sulfa Treat facilities as well as the Lamont Tool House.

Signs have been posted prohibiting entry to the areas. Law enforcement will conduct regular patrols of the closed areas, according to the Forest Service. Those found trespassing could be fined up to $5,000 for individuals or $10,000 for organizations or face up to six months in jail.

The closure order is available at www.fs.usda.gov/r09/allegheny/alerts and copies are also available to the public at all Allegheny National Forest offices. For more information, contact the Marienville Ranger District office at 814-927-6628.

The American Refining Group is situated on 131 acres on 77 North Kendall Avenue in Bradford, Pa. The refinery has a rated capacity of 11,000 barrels per day and processes light sweet paraffinic crude.

This type of crude is available domestically, and ARG purchases the majority of its crude from sources in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and West Virginia.

In 2017, Rob Fallon, former Allegheny National Forest Marienville District ranger, decided to renew two expired special use authorizations for an oil pipeline, tanker loading facility, and a buried electric transmission powerline on the Marienville Ranger District. The proposed re-authorizations are located in Highland Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania.