IMPERIAL — A county executive is temporarily grounding plans to lease property at Pittsburgh International Airport to companies exploring for natural gas.

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato isn't opposed to drilling, but he said the county airport authority moved too quickly in advertising to attract drillers. The authority manages the airport property, but Onorato says the county owns it, so he doesn't want a deal struck until the county is involved.

The county authority wants at least $4.5 million over the first 18 months.