Petition says Ohio in violation of fed law dealing with oil, gas industry

COLUMBUS — A representative with both the Center for Health Environment and Justice and the Buckeye Forest Council has filed a petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claiming that Ohio is in violation of the Federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.

The law requires federal, state and local governments to be prepared for emergency planning related to hazardous and toxic chemicals.

In the petition, the groups ask that the U.S. EPA “make and publish widely throughout Ohio” a formal determination that Ohio’s laws dealing with the oil and gas industry, primarily Ohio Revised Code 1509, is in violation of the federal law.

Ohio law does not require operators to test the fluids they use before exploration or disclose what chemicals they use until after drilling is complete, with some disclosure exceptions granted to protect trade secrets.

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