Unwarranted Petition Isn’t Answer for Ohio

WARREN TRIBUNE CHRONICLE. Environmental groups recently filed a petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to revoke the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ ability to regulate oil and gas injection wells.

These groups say “everyone has the right to clean air, clean water and a safe place to live and work.” We couldn’t agree more. That’s why, despite what this misguided and misinformed petition says, Ohio runs a top of the line regulatory program that protects Ohio communities and the environment.

If the U.S. EPA takes primacy of Class II wells from the ODNR, it will change a program that has been working since 1983. In 2015, the U.S. EPA audited programs and said Ohio’s regulatory process was a “good quality program.” ODNR takes the task of protecting Ohio’s environment seriously; in fact, in recent years, their rules have strengthened beyond what federal regulators require. This petition seems to be more about stifling the growing natural gas and oil industry in the state, which provides the essential energy we need everyday.

Those supporting the petition claim the environment is their main concern. The natural gas and oil industry has been a proven environmental steward for decades in Ohio. Those who work in the industry have taken it upon themselves to ensure that Ohio not only is able to power the nation but do so in a safe and clean way. Ohio producers are leading the way in limiting methane emissions and despite producing 15 times more natural gas in 2018 than in 1990. We’ve cut emissions by 15 percent.

Ohioans are gearing up for winter and preparing for their first heating bills of the season. During this energy crisis we should be focused on increasing production of clean, abundant, affordable energy, not increasing red tape with an unnecessary Washington, D.C., takeover of a working state program.

GEORGE BROWN

Executive director,

Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program

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