OH Court Sides with Town Against ODNR/Driller in Cleveland Suburb

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court-gavel.jpgIn January 2015 MDN highlighted an ongoing squabble near Cleveland, in Cuyahoga County, OH, between the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Ohio Oil and Gas Commission (OOGC) (see ODNR Appeals Decision Overturning Drilling Permit Near Cleveland). The ODNR is responsible for evaluating and issuing permits to drill oil and gas wells in the Buckeye State. The OOGC is the body that hears appeals from people who disagree with a permit issued by the ODNR. Such an appeal was filed for what we believed was a conventional (vertical only) oil well to be drilled in North Royalton, OH to Cutter Oil Company. It now appears the permit is for a horizontal shale well. No matter whether the well is vertical-only or horizontal, if the OOGC is allowed to overturn the permit because of nebulous and unspecific “safety concerns,” it sets a legal precedence, which is likely what the ODNR is trying to prevent with their appeal. That appeal has gone through several courts and on Tuesday the 10th District Ohio Court of Appeals sided with OOGC against ODNR in saying the ODNR didn't take safety concerns into consideration...

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