Thursday, May 24, 2012
COLUMBUS (AP) — Rules regulating oil and gas well construction, water handling, and the disclosure of chemicals used in drilling were ready to clear their final legislative hurdles today and head to Gov. John Kasich.
The Ohio House was scheduled to vote later today on the new regulations governing hydraulic fracturing in the Utica and Marcellus shale formations running under sections of the state. They are part of a wide-ranging energy bill that also addresses Ohio’s clean-energy standard and makes dozens of other changes.
Barring further amendments to the bill, the Ohio Senate was prepared to concur on House changes later in the day. That would send the bill to Kasich, who is expected to sign it.
Some environmental groups turned against the bill Wednesday after a provision was added limiting who can sue energy companies for chemical trade secrets. Among them were the Ohio Environmental Council and the Sierra Club, which had previously been neutral.
The Kasich administration said it fought to guarantee that owners and adjacent neighbors of well properties could file trade secret challenges. Environmentalists argued, however, that the language requires all others to show current or potential harm from the secret chemicals before a lawsuit would be allowed.