A deadline to bid on the right to drill for oil and natural gas under parts of the Ohio River is approaching.

Sealed bids are due Thursday afternoon for drilling rights on state-owned land under 22 miles of the river. The sections are in Pleasants, Marshall and Wetzel counties.

Eight West Virginia and Ohio groups have sent Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin a letter opposing the idea. Some include the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Concerned Citizens Ohio, West Virginia Sierra Club chapter and FreshWater Accountability Project.

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