PITTSBURGH — The U.S. Forest Service shut down a gas and oil drilling operation in the Allegheny National Forest last month because it started drilling without required permits.

Minard Run Oil Co. — whose president and chief executive officer, Fred Fesenmyer, is also chairman of the Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Association — was clearing trees and drilling the first of 19 wells when it was shut down.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Pittsburgh says it is looking into the situation.

Minard Oil did not have a timber contract allowing it to cut the trees or a "notice to proceed," both documents issued by the forest service and required before tree-cutting, road-building or well-drilling can begin.

Fesenmyer acknowledged Minard Oil did not have the documents but said a 60-day review period had run its course when he decided to proceed.

"We were left hanging," Fesenmyer said. "So we weren't doing anything illegal except that we did not have documentation."

Minard Oil paid fees for the timber contract and received the notice to proceed a week or so after starting drilling, Fesenmyer said.

"In my opinion, if the forest service issued the notice and accepted the money for the trees, that issue is moot," he said.