RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Citing assurances from federal officials, Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Wednesday fracking for natural gas will not be allowed in the George Washington National Forest.

“I won’t allow it as long as I’m governor,” McAuliffe told the inaugural meeting of a climate change panel he created this summer. “We made it clear to everyone we will not allow fracking in our national forest. I’m not going to allow it.”