[Green] Fwd: We're suing

[anne sparks]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Save Ohio Parks via ActionNetwork.org <hello at saveohioparks.org>
Date: Fri, Dec 1, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Subject: We're suing
To: <anne.sparks756 at gmail.com>


They won't sell off our beloved parks and wildlife areas without a fight

Advocates Sue to Halt Oil & Gas Leasing in Ohio State Parks and Public
Lands Ohio
agency opens Ohio public lands for oil and gas development without proper
consideration and opportunity for hearing

*LEGAL DOCUMENT
<https://click.actionnetwork.org/ss/c/XlxiKm-amnZREMhISCI1HT6Sdq517uYn0gsIijIwy4zqHa-3Y99gbmO1EoTd55D4WMus_Yxt9cARdCQQSciNCQrfxbatEFkrha2gmEDuO83zFOurWw8m9yb0i_jREx9eiQHoAYMfGY1ytWdmhGlXL_wIvYcU6sp55ytMklDrjRtwpx2efbrKG1-0h0fB6JzLEXXMEeC4EeynzLiCZwSBCZQQzZJbGW8N5Tlm2nRyj6p6xdjeXleF6_ox9amg6dD3BdBeUD-iRgc9c6bjiWkWGKyXEHLWQfIEE1uYlMLVL6uzTEtu8rqN23Vz4SbAsfFW/41r/-eTjLl9gTDO19a4wJPx0xQ/h0/VLvz6_3rN9_UO1rwmo3ahsTPWgzwtaU9JZl8JOAsKkw>*
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Local groups are appealing the Ohio Oil and Gas Land
Management Commission’s approval of nominations to lease Ohio’s largest
state park and two wildlife areas for oil and gas development.

On September 15, 2023, the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission
approved nominations to lease Salt Fork State Park, Valley Run Wildlife
Area, and Zepernick Wildlife Area. Advocates are claiming the nomination
approvals were not given proper consideration under Ohio state law. The
groups also claim that there was no opportunity for public hearing as
required by Ohio state law. The Commission’s approval of the nominations
requires the public lands to be leased to the highest and best bidder, with
bidding set to begin in January.

The groups suing include Save Ohio Parks, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers,
Buckeye Environmental Network, and Ohio Environmental Council. They are
represented by lawyers at Earthjustice, and the Ohio Environmental Council
are also representing themselves in this case.

*Quotes from groups and attorneys are below:*

“Save Ohio Parks helped almost 5,000 Ohio citizens submit public comments
opposed to fracking our state parks and wildlife areas. We sent the
commissioners study after study showing fracking harms our health and
environment without improving our economy. We pulled public records
documenting that leaks, spills, and fires occur almost daily at oil and gas
operations in Ohio. And we identified almost 100 people who did not submit
the pro-fracking comments attributed to them. The Commission disregarded
all of this evidence and voted to frack our beloved parks and wildlife
areas anyway. Citizens were not allowed to speak at their meetings. The
people of Ohio own and use our public lands, and we deserve a say in what
happens to them. We did not get that say, and so we are appealing this
appalling decision.”
*- Cathy Cowan Becker, Steering Committee Member, Save Ohio Parks*

“In spite of the mandate by law to consider the thousands of letters of
protest by hikers, hunters, anglers, scientists, physicians, and families
in Ohio, the 5 pro oil and gas industry people on the Oil and Gas Land
Management Commission, voted to give away our precious public lands for
fracking. Governor DeWine who appointed the industry-supporting decision
makers shall be blamed for the irrevocable harm that will come to our parks
and wildlife areas that should be protected.”
*- Roxanne Groff, Advisory Board Member, Buckeye Environmental Network;
member of Save Ohio Parks*

“Backcountry Hunters and Anglers is dedicated to the preservation of public
land for multiple uses, including extractive uses in some cases, but this
nomination process has been flawed from the start and further corrupted
along the way. Our primary concern is the real and immediate impact on
hunters and anglers and hikers and birders who use these state parks to
pursue their passion, but also for all citizens of the great state of Ohio.
Many citizens will never visit these places, but are still owners of the
land. We do not feel that the owners of this land are being given proper
consideration in deciding how it will be used. This rushed and chaotic
process will not lead to an outcome that benefits Ohioans, nor the hunters
and anglers of Salt Fork and Zepernick and Valley Run. These parks and
those who use and own them deserve better, so we are appealing these
nomination approvals.”
*- Dustin Lindley, Chair of the board for Ohio chapter, Backcountry Hunters
and Anglers*

“The Commission blatantly violated its own procedures and the law when it
voted to open state public lands to the oil and gas industry. It failed to
publicly consider potential harm fracking will have on our parks and
wildlife areas and on the people who enjoy these beloved places. Ohioans
deserve better. Our state public lands, especially Salt Fork State Park,
are priceless natural gems that should be protected which is why we’re
appealing the Commission’s decision.”
*- Nathan Johnson, Senior Attorney – Land and Water, Ohio Environmental
Council*

“These public lands provide some of the last places of respite from rampant
oil and gas development in Appalachian Ohio. Opening these lands for
leasing is an enormous decision worthy of every legal safeguard. The
Commission failed to follow those safeguards, so we’ll see them in court.”
*- Megan Hunter, Senior Attorney, Earthjustice*

*Background: *

On April 7, 2023, Ohio HB 507 went into law requiring the leasing of public
lands, including state parks, for fracking. Oil and gas leasing was already
allowed at state parks and public lands because of a 2011 bill from the
state legislature. HB 507 required oil and gas leasing on state owned land
until the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission adopted a uniform
lease, at which point the Commission again has discretion to approve or
disapprove nominations to lease Ohio’s public lands. The Commission adopted
a lease this spring and began receiving nominations to lease.

On November 15, 2023, the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission voted
<https://click.actionnetwork.org/ss/c/atcYNHk4Eh2YdGnwBh-YDP2LoYDU8ShQ1Pd-v6gjm8A0QBkjM5Iv85XDCf0pWerJaU8HgpPG-sBLjCN-UtwiBS22kXvX7GMAdMKbqWx4fPSQilgI_l_VvexRiiUtCzCTj1-y-HW_U_bo2VLEbgy9Gjmm5HlpZMaooMtSegdadkKbs2V-7HlBP5AAZWvJPEk8OIGiRN0JsecI2s23rglf9EEb1cswSRgovYn2JIWmafroH9bwdbHlUT84tP7Bfy7VqnpZptU3eLS1ZOvP5D4jVv04W9S3DN2Im7NlHINAGaThF9rLYCZcuVwPMwWR2emTrCauFICMEWPZeYFGh6YDbLvsOUko7zNvvYDXrZK4rP4/41r/-eTjLl9gTDO19a4wJPx0xQ/h1/Xu3YDOt3-feGiwLq6N2DAyTvXxcMki2uqxniaONm8Io>
to advance requests to frack thousands of acres Salt Fork State Park,
Valley Run Wildlife Area and Zepernick Wildlife Area. The votes occurred
over the chants of around 100 protesters
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.
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