Request to Drill Under (Not On) OH’s Jockey Hollow Wildlife Area

In January 2023, Ohio House Bill (HB) 507 became law with the signature of Gov. Mike DeWine (see OH Gov. Signs Bill Expanding Drilling in State Parks, NatGas “Green”). The law allows shale drilling under (but not on top of) Ohio state-owned land, including state parks and wildlife areas. HB 507 encourages (pushes for) more drilling under state-owned land. The special commission created to award contracts — called the Ohio Oil & Gas Land Management Commission (OGLMC) — met in September 2023 to consider 12+ “nominations” (requests to drill) received (see Ohio Comm. Says 12.5% Royalties for State Land Drilling Too Cheap). Since that time, environmentalists have been apoplectic at the prospect of drilling under state-owned land with every new request. It's happening again with a request to drill under (not on) 1,460 acres of Jockey Hollow Wildlife Area in Belmont County.

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