Last week we brought you the good news that the Ohio Supreme Court ruled against local municipalities trying to block Utica Shale drilling by using local zoning ordinances (see OH Supreme Court Strikes Down Home Rule in Gas Drilling Case). In Munroe Falls v Beck Energy (sometimes called Morrison v Beck Energy) the supremes said ONLY the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) has the right, under state law, to control when and where drilling occurs. However, according to at least one energy attorney in the state, there’s still a lot local municipalities can do affect–even control–where and when drilling happens. That’s his claim anyway…
