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Protect Ohio's State Parks from Oil & Gas Drilling!
Keep Ohio's state parks and nature preserves protected from oil and gas drilling!
Take action now by using the form at right.
Last week, without debate, the Ohio Senate added an amendment to the state budget bill to open up Ohio’s state parks, nature preserves, historic sites, and other state lands to oil and gas drilling.
Some lawmakers think they can tap a gusher of income by drilling on our lands. This is unrealistic, unsafe, and unwanted!
The State Senate and House of Representatives in Columbus need to hear from you – TODAY.
Please take a moment to contact Speaker of the House of Representatives Armond Budish:
- Send an email now using the easy form at right.
- Call his office at 1-800-282-0253.
- Forward this page to three friends in Ohio and ask them to help, too!
Please don’t let our parks and preserves be harmed by oil and gas drilling. Contact Speaker Budish today!
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: No drilling in Ohio's state parks, nature preserves, and historic sites!
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Please do NOT open Ohio's state parks, nature preserves, historic sites, and natural areas to oil and gas drilling.
Opening up more public lands to oil and gas exploration is:
-Unnecessary: It is not necessary to open up Ohio's parks, preserves, and wilderness areas to drilling. Under current Ohio law, oil and gas development already is lawful on more than 99.5% of Ohio's landscape not covered by water, including all private property (with the owner's permission) and even the overwhelming majority of Ohio's public lands, including the Wayne National Forest and Ohio's state forests and state wildlife areas.
-Unhelpful: Even if all of the oil and gas under state lands could be developed all at once (which experts say is not practical), it likely would supply Ohio's energy needs only for a few years. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio - the state's regulator of natural gas pricing and delivery to homes and businesses - has stated that, "Although there are natural gas wells in Ohio, these wells alone can produce only a fraction of the natural gas necessary for the entire state."
-Unsightly: Although only a small footprint remains at the wellhead after drilling is complete, oil and gas production poses unavoidable impacts before, during, and even long after the drilling ends. Excavation, tree removal, stream crossings, road building, toxic brine disposal, pipeline and collection tank construction and maintenance, and compressor station noises all are common.
-Unsafe: Though not common, the risk of spills and explosions are real. In 2004, a massive gas well blowout led to a 126,000 gallon crude oil spill and costly clean up in Delaware County. In 2007, an explosion caused by natural gas that had leaked from a gas well into a water well leveled a house in Geauga County.
-Unfaithful: The State of Ohio has set aside scenic parks, unique natural areas, unspoiled wilderness, and important historic sites for all Ohioans to enjoy. Opening these lands to drilling would break the state's promise to forever protect these special places from commercial development.
-Unwanted: Drilling is not wanted by those who use and enjoy Ohio's parks, preserves, wilderness areas, and historic sites - campers, hikers, nature and history lovers, and others. Mother Nature and historic events made some places more special than others. Ohio should keep its promise to keep these special places special and protected from development.
My family wants our precious public lands to remain natural and preserved for future generations - not drilled and carved up and cluttered with maintenance roads, pipelines, storage tanks, and compressor stations.
Again, please do NOT open Ohio's state parks, nature preserves, historic sites, and natural areas to oil and gas drilling.
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
June 12, 2009
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