The Oil and Gas Land Management Commission just announced it will meet this Friday, March 28.

Save Ohio Parks will host a press conference in advance of the event with speakers from environmental organizations across the state that support a moratorium on all new and pending bids, nominations and leases to frack under our state parks and public lands. The press conference will begin at noon on the plaza outside the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Charles D. Shipley Building, 1970 W. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43223. The commission meeting will take place in the Atrium of the building at 1 p.m.

Nominations to be considered at this meeting include:

• 24-DNR-0009 - Leesville Wildlife Area - 171 acres
• 24-DNR-0010 - Valley Run Wildlife Area - 5 acres
• 24-DOT-0012 - ROW Along SR 149 in Belmont County
• 24-DOT-0013 - ROW along SR 151 in Harrison County

In addition, bid results will be announced for 24-DNR-0005 - Leesville Wildlife Area - 62 acres.

Ohioans filed a total of 923 public comments on the last four parks and wildlife areas to be nominated for fracking. Of those only ONE comment was in support. The rest -- 922 comments or 99.9% -- were opposed.

The wishes of Ohioans regarding the fate of our public lands are clear. The unelected, governor-appointed regulatory group has two new commissioners, plus a new chair.

More than 1,000 Ohioans have signed our petition telling Gov. Mike DeWine to declare a moratorium on fracking our state parks, wildlife areas, and public lands. A link to it is here: bit.ly/MoratoriumNow.