Letter to the editor: We can’t trust oil and gas to police itself

To the editor:

The Ohio legislature at the end of December 2022 passed a law that allowed fracking underneath state lands. Currently there are several nominations up for fracking around Salt Fork State Park.

The people of Ohio did not vote for this measure. The oil and gas industry pushed for it. Oil and gas polices itself. We cannot trust this industry to consider people’s health. Who will be responsible if there’s a spill or a leak or a fire? We don’t even know what chemicals they are using.

We should require an environmental assessment. We should monitor the air and water quality. We should study the history of this industry. We don’t want to turn Ohio into cancer alley. We’ve all seen Erin Brockovich. We’ve seen Dark Waters. Does the state of Ohio want to be sued? Who will pay for that? The people of Ohio.

Let the state parks be as they are meant to be. Join us at saveohioparks.org

Terry Grange

This letter was originally published in The Marion Star on July 14, 2023.

Photo: Historic Kennedy Stone House at Salt Fork State Park.