OGLMC meeting 12-9-24
Start: Monday, December 09, 2024•12:15 PM
Commission to Decide on Bids for Egypt Valley, Nominations for Leesville, Salt Fork
We need you, and we need your positive energy in person on Monday, December 9, at 12:15 p.m. at
Ohio Department of Public Safety
Charles D. Shipley Building, Atrium
1970 W. Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43223
That’s the time, date and place for the next Oil and Gas Land Management Commission meeting. The commission is slated to decide on nominations and bids by unnamed oil and gas companies to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to frack two large tracts of Salt Fork State Park, parts of Leesville and Egypt Valley Wildlife Areas, and two rights-of-way along state highways, all in Appalachian Ohio, long a sacrifice zone for the fossil fuel industry.
Nominations of public land to be discussed and possibly approved or denied for fracking:
- 24-DNR-0007 Salt Fork State Park. This nomination is to frack 371.42 acres of Salt Fork State Park in Jefferson Township, Guernsey County, from a well pad 16,415 feet away.
- 24-DNR-0008 Salt Fork State Park. This nomination is to frack 513.11 acres of Salt Fork State Park in Jefferson Township, Guernsey County, from a well pad 9,000 feet away.
At 20,000 acres, Salt Fork State Park is Ohio’s largest state park. This pristine area belongs to the people of Ohio. 24/7 lights, noise and increased truck traffic will greatly impact park user experiences, and its park biodiversity (bird, animal and plant populations). Please note: The commission was slated to decide on these two nominations of Salt Fork at its last meeting in October, but put off the decision so they could read over 300 public comments -- many of them from you!
- 24-DNR-0009 Leesville Wildlife Area. This nomination is to frack 171.64 acres of Leesville Wildlife Area in Orange Township, Carroll County, from a well pad 2.07 miles away.
Leesville Wildlife Area is a popular public hunting area wrapped around the Leesville Lake, which provides backup drinking water to the area. Recently the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District sold water rights for $12 million and signed a $40 million lease allowing Encino Energy to allow fracking under the lake. Encino's Ohio arm, Encino Acquisition Partners, is 98% owned by the Canadian Pension Plan.
- 24-DOT-0012. This nomination is to frack .179 acres along State Route 149 in Smith Township, Belmont County, from a well pad .93 miles away.
Bids to be discussed and possibly awarded for land already approved for fracking:
- 24-DNR-0003 Egypt Valley Wildlife Area. A bid may be awarded to frack 30.359 acres of Egypt Valley Wildlife Area in Flushing Township, Belmont County, from a well pad 2.04 miles away. This area is land reclaimed from decades of surface mining — and popular with hunters, anglers and birders.
- 24-DOT-0011. A bid may be awarded to frack 4.709 acres along State Route 800 in Center Township, Monroe County, from a well pad 2.31 miles away.
While the commission meeting officially begins at 1 p.m., we ask you to arrive at 12:15 p.m. to join us outside the main entrance of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Charles D. Shipley Building, 1970 W. Broad St, Columbus, for fellowship, chanting, and singing. Wear a costume if you like. Bring a sign with your feelings about fracking and its destructive effects on our freshwater supply.
Fracking destroys fresh water taken from Ohio's public lakes and streams. Ohio sells water to gas and oil companies for one-third of one cent per gallon, among the lowest prices in the industry. After fracking, “produced” wastewater is toxic and radioactive, unfit for human consumption. The wastewater is trucked away and stored deep underground in state-licensed Class II injection wells forever. There is no limit to the total amount of water that can be taken. This is outrageous, as we see the devastating economic consequences of the extreme drought much of Ohio has experienced this past summer and fall.
Please join us on Monday, December 9, at 12:15 p.m. to help protect our pristine, state parks and public lands from fracking. Together we fight for the right of all Ohioans to enjoy our parks and public lands in their natural, unspoiled states. We do this not just for us, but for our children, grandchildren, and those we love best.
Need a ride to Columbus? Can you drive others to Columbus? Add or join a carpool here
Save Ohio Parks is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization founded by Ohio citizens concerned about fracking of our state parks, wildlife areas and other public lands. We are entirely volunteer led and run. Although donations are not tax deductible, rest assured anything you give will be used for immediate campaign needs. You can donate to Save Ohio Parks here.