09/20/2023

‘Falsified’ Public Comments Loom Over Ohio State Parks Drilling Decisions

Drilling under parks and wildlife still on track

An Ohio commission is poised to rule on proposals to drill under state parks and wildlife areas before the conclusion of an investigation into fabricated public comments submitted in favor of the proposals.

On Monday, the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission deferred a decisio in order to allow more time to consider the lease conditions proposed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Chair Ryan Richardson said the commission still plans to make final decisions before the end of the year.

The process is playing out despite claims by more than 150 Ohio residents that their names and addresses were used without their knowledge or consent on pro-fracking public comments submitted to the commission. Critics say that alleged fraud, along with proposed below-market royalties, raise questions about whether the commission can fairly comply with statutory criteria for approving parcels for fossil fuel development.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Ohio Capital Journal.