Ohio’s Oil and Gas Land Management Commission will hold its next meeting on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 10 a.m. to consider industry applications to frack several Ohio state parks and wildlife areas.

Volunteers with Save Ohio Parks will be in attendance starting at 9:30 a.m. for a gathering, including music by singer-songwriter Jenny Morgan who has created an original music video for this campaign.

Anyone who pays taxes to support Ohio state parks and wildlife areas is  encouraged to register for both the gathering at 9:30 a.m. and commission meeting at 10 a.m. by signing up at bit.ly/oglmc9-18. 

Registering will ensure that you receive event updates and any possible last minute changes of plan.

Event details

You can find a carpool board for this event at https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/9kg0xt.

The commission meeting will take place at:

Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Assembly Center
2045 Morse Road – Building E1
Columbus, Ohio 43229

Any member of the public who wishes to attend the meeting in person must enter the through the Morse Road Gatehouse and register as a visitor with security. A driver’s license or valid form of identification is required to access ODNR campus.

Volunteers with Save Ohio Parks will gather outside Building E1 starting at 9:30 a.m. for a pep rally, remarks, and music by singer-songwriter Jenny Morgan, a member of our steering committee.

We encourage as many people as possible to attend this meeting in person, to let their voices be heard by the commission, whether or not we are formally allowed to speak. You are welcome to make a sign or signs, and Save Ohio Parks will also bring signs.

You can find a carpool board for this event at https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/9kg0xt.

Please give yourself extra time to arrive, as many map and GPS functions cannot find the access road into the ODNR complex, and you may find yourself on a side street and need to try again.

Fate of our parks and wildlife areas at stake

At the September 18 meeting, commissioners will discuss the fate of oil and gas industry applications, called “lease nominations,” to frack Salt Fork State Park, Valley Run Wildlife Area, Zepernick Wildlife Area, and several pieces of land managed by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Commissioners have the authority to approve or deny these nominations, or they could delay a decision for another meeting to be held within 60 days.

Save Ohio Parks, an all volunteer group of Ohio citizens concerned about fracking in or near our state parks, wildlife areas, and other public lands, has been sending action alerts to its very engaged mailing list, asking people to send letters to the commission opposing fracking.

So far Save Ohio Parks has generated 1053 individual letters opposing fracking in Salt Fork State Park, 537 individual letters opposing fracking in Valley Run and Zepernick Wildlife Areas, and 190 general comments opposing all fracking on public lands.

The commenting period is still open for two additional nominations to frack Salt Fork State Park and one to frack Wolf Run State Park.

Save Ohio Parks urges the members of the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission to exercise their power to deny fracking in our most treasured state parks and public lands. The vast majority of comments submitted to the commission oppose fracking on public land.