The state Department of Environmental Protection has denied a permit for a gas company’s plan to drill 90 wells and create an access road and pipeline on Jacoby Mountain in Loyalsock State Forest.

Pennsylvania General Energy’s permit was denied and reason provided by four individuals who determined the proposed project does not meet engineering requirements.

The permit denial signers included Erin Gocek, biologist reviewer; Chris Yeakel, biologist supervisor; Chris Mileto, engineering reviewer and Daniel Harvey, section chief.

Moreover, they said it is proposed in a manner that will have a significant adverse effect upon safety or the protection of life, health, property or the environment.

At a hearing in February, Dan Hagan, a Marcellus Shale Coalition official testified of the benefits of natural gas, how the industry supports thousands of household supporting jobs and that the company seeking the permit would be good stewards of the environment.

Nevertheless, he was a voice muffled by pleas of those opposed to drilling on lands they cherish and say must be protected from industrialization.

Among those, Barbara Jarmoska, noting the precious waters of the streams meandering through the landscape and wildflowers blooming each spring. PGE wants to bring a “radically different springtime,” she said.

And Bruce Buckle, president, Lycoming Audubon Society, said that different bird species are declining and need forest land to survive. He added: “State forests deserve our highest level of protection.”

Others thought the traffic from creating a road will mean excess runoff and sediment impacting the trout streams. Scenic Jacoby Falls is 600 feet from the proposed gas pipeline.

The joint permit was to construct, operate and maintain 20 permanent stream crossings, 19 temporary stream crossings, eight permanent wetland crossings and 10 temporary wetland crossings in Gamble and Cascade townships.

The permit included the construction of a permanent access road and staging area.