This week the window opened for oil and gas companies to submit nominations to the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission for parcels of Ohio public land – including our state parks, forests, and wildlife areas – to be leased for oil and gas extraction. 

Even before today’s opening, out-of-state company Encino Energy submitted a proposal to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, asking to build 14 fracking pads housing up to 89 frack wells around Salt Fork State Park. 

Today the Ohio Oil and Gas Association called the opening of all of our taxpayer-owned public lands to oil and gas extraction a “ribbon-cutting” – as if our most treasured public lands are there for the industry to take what they want.

In response, Cathy Cowan Becker, an organizer with Save Ohio Parks, issued the following statement: 

“Apparently the oil and gas industry views today’s opening of applications to frack our taxpayer-supported public lands as open season on our state parks, forests, and wildlife areas. Already one company wants to surround Salt Fork State Park with up to 89 frack wells. How is flaring methane and injecting millions of gallons of toxic chemicals into the ground compatible with hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, birdwatching, or anything else we do in our state parks? It’s not even compatible with basic climate and health. These are public lands, paid for and used by the public, and meant to be protected. We oppose the destruction of our most treasured state lands for the profit of extractive polluting industries.”

Save Ohio Parks is kicking off an all-volunteer campaign against oil and gas extraction on our publicly owned and used lands. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and look for our website – saveohioparks.org – coming soon.

Read more here about this issue… https://columbusfreepress.com/article/activists-call-oil-and-gas-commission-seek-emergency-rule-regarding-extraction-public-lands