An update on lawmaker action and other activities at the Ohio Statehouse related to horizontal

An update on lawmaker action and other activities at the Ohio Statehouse related to horizontal hydraulic fracturing:

Better protections: In June, the National Wildlife Federation released a study calling for better protections of the Great Lakes from fracking activity, saying, “the scale of this fracking presents risks to water resources from water withdrawals and contamination.”

Another letter: Later in the month, state Rep. Bob Hagan, a Democrat from Youngstown and outspoken critic of Gov. John Kasich’s policy stances related to horizontal hydraulic fracturing and drilling wastewater disposal, sent another letter to the governor, this time voicing concern about the contents of waste fluids generated by fracking.

The letter focused on a brine test from a well in Athens County.

He wrote, “When was the last time ODNR tested the make-up of brine and other fracking waste? The last injection well inspection? Furthermore, the enclosed information provided to me by concerned constituents was originally presented to, but never addressed by, ODNR. Why are the concerns of Ohioans being ignored by their own government?”

Executive order: Gov. John Kasich signed an executive order in July allowing the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to require additional testing and safeguards as part of its injection well permitting.

The move allowed related rules to take effect immediately while the state continues to work through the regular, months-long rules-making process.

The order prompted praise on July 11 from state Sen. Joe Schiavoni, a Democrat from Boardman.

“There is no question that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources needed more authority to issue conditional permits and to shut down injection wells that pose a danger to the public,” Schiavoni said in a released statement. “That is why I fought for tougher regulations during the recent debate over new rules for the oil and gas industry. I have worked extensively with ODNR and I have confidence they will be able to use these new rules effectively in preventing situations like we experienced in the Mahoning Valley.”

Drawing praise: Kasich signed another executive order in July to ban drilling for oil and gas in or under Lake Erie – a move that drew praise from at least one environmental group that has been critical of the governor’s past fracking-related actions.

“With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Kasich got the job done when the state Legislature dropped the ball earlier this year,” Jack Shaner, deputy director of the Ohio Environmental Council, said in a released statement. “... Some areas of the state should be left untouched from this highly industrial process. Ohioans want to enjoy the lake in all of its beauty ... and our Great Lake is no place to risk an Exxon Valdez tanker spill or Gulf Coast blowout type disaster.”

Approval urged: The governor and former state agriculture Director Fred Dailey also urged approval of Kasich’s proposal to increase taxes on oil and gas produced through fracking while implementing a corresponding decrease in the state’s income tax rates.

Critics of the plan, as written, offered their thoughts on the proposal.

House Minority Leader Armond Budish and Policy Matters Ohio, a liberal think tank, agreed with an the tax hike but said the collections should be used to help local governments and schools, not to cut income taxes.

And, the Ohio Oil and Gas Association said the severance tax increase could stifle growth in oil and gas production and lead to higher tax bills for farmers and other landowners.