The Bear Swamp area in Sempronius has been removed from the state's plans for oil and natural gas exploration.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation on Friday announced final plans for an exploration leasing arrangement that was first announced nearly a year ago. The DEC proposed entering into agreements to allow drilling on numerous state-owned properties throughout a seven-county area that encompasses the Trenton/Black River gas formation.

A 2,094-acre piece of Bear Swamp was included in that original proposal, but many local residents and officials opposed the move.

For more on this story, read Saturday's edition of The Citizen.