[Green] Fwd: We're suing

[Dawn Hewitt]

This is great news! Thanks, Anne!  --dawn

On Fri, Dec 1, 2023 at 8:37 AM anne sparks via Green <green at fuusm.org>
wrote:

>
>
> ---------- 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
> <https://click.actionnetwork.org/ss/c/wehEm_vu1NBVXOKYSqOxTApGr6j9HMEL-22EyLgIxE3IXWveqkI5yisul397tHGA75oRyPLl_wEAQ-S9JiCbCexIoPw4-KbxvNwoB4f8Ek5I8jrLryGhUEw_q5YjLaAYFz6qDg62dCT9CcDEkRfXIzwhKwZKozpKjmtP98vc8yAs94T1YYpYq7-wefG4pJ0WBctJAHJxKaViE6AjTudcDgGepauGJ0ymIn-_-qQZQswydy0D8qSYbfrHGMogRR-jS8Y-8ROJQdmaU0oGe4U0Eq85C9WJnJbBODKk0KLOMGYZ0E_hxMKEa4Lv2fdVGbxpic7GNpd-NFnTrjl-aXH_NQ/41r/-eTjLl9gTDO19a4wJPx0xQ/h2/cVDtOU-FHdwNuvnft6_zIWuhL9Oh0bV8mum8bpjCN5U>
> .
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