Ryan and Wilson support drilling on leased land

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U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley’s representatives in the U.S. House support a proposal requiring oil companies to drill on 68 million acres of land they lease from the federal government.

“Big oil is sitting on millions of acres that have been untapped,” said Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th. “I say if they’re not going to drill on that land, the U.S. government should lease the land to some company that will.”

Wilson, who represents all of Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning County, and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, who represents portions of Mahoning and Trumbull, announced their support for the bill today.

Six Democratic members of the House introduced the legislation last Thursday.

Wilson and Ryan said oil companies are producing on about 20 percent of the offshore acres they lease and on about 30 percent of the leased onshore acres.

“These company should either use the leases or lose the leases,” Ryan said.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator or vindy.com