Ohio is opening up more than 8,200 acres of a wildlife area in southeastern Ohio and another 500 acres of Salt Fork State Park for fracking − one of the largest swaths of Ohio public land approved for oil and gas drilling to date.
On March 27, the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission unanimously approved 8,236 acres of the Egypt Valley Wildlife Area in Belmont County for oil and gas drilling amid cries of “shame” and “corruption” from protesters. They also approved 513 acres of Salt Fork State Park − the first, and so far only, state park approved for fracking.
Those parcels will be put out for bid next quarter, and Ohioans won’t learn which companies applied until after a bid is accepted. The secretive process is required under state law.
“This is a rather large set of nominations put together for the nomination phase,” said Theresa White, chair of the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission. “We’ve seen that before, so it’s just there’s some ebb and flow to what we’re seeing.”
Also known as hydraulic fracturing, the fracking process uses pressurized water, sand and chemical additives to extract oil and gas reserves from mineral supplies under the Earth’s surface.
Fracking opponents worry about the environmental impact, including the risk of water contamination and the release of methane, a greenhouse gas. More than 1,000 people submitted public comments opposing the expansion of oil and gas drilling in Ohio.
“Given the statute, we are required to review all nine criteria, and so public comments are one of those criteria that are considered,” White said. But those gathered for the March 27 meeting say they felt unheard during the process, which is more of a rubber stamp.
Opponents pointed to the proliferation of data centers, which require more and more energy, as one reason for the need for more oil and gas drilling.
“You might ask why the oil and gas industry is suddenly demanding that our state land so much of our parks and our wildlife areas for fracking. The answer is two words: data centers,” said Cathy Cowan Becker, a leader with Save Ohio Parks
Ohio legalized fracking under public lands in 2011, but the law stalled until Republicans in the state Legislature rewrote it in December 2022. Since then, the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission has approved fracking under Salt Fork State Park and several state-owned wildlife areas.
“As energy security and affordability remain global challenges, the responsible development of Ohio’s natural gas and oil resources is part of the solution,” said Mike Chadsey, spokesman for the Ohio Oil and Gas Association. “It supports jobs and local communities while contributing to a more stable energy supply − showing how strong environmental standards and economic growth can go hand in hand.”
The commission also approved a lease for EOG Resources, Inc., for 3.6 acres of Valley Run Wildlife Area in Carroll County.
Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, has barred fracking on state park land. Oil and gas companies must build their wells on adjacent property and drill horizontally to access the fossil fuels beneath state parks and wildlife areas. But a top Republican indicated a new administration could be more open to fracking.
Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, told the Ohio Oil and Gas Association’s annual conference that “this organization and its members have great days ahead when (Vivek) Ramaswamy and (Ohio Senate President Rob) McColley are running the show,” Gongwer News Service reported.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@usatodayco.com or @jbalmert on X.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio commission approves fracking on thousands of acres of public land
Reporting by Jessie Balmert, Columbus Dispatch / Cincinnati Enquirer
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