19 Ohio organizations urge state officials to halt state land leasing decisions until investigation of alleged fake “pro-fracking” comments concludes

In a joint letter delivered on Friday to members of the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, 19 organizations urged officials to investigate and rectify the alleged fake public comments submitted by fossil fuel interests without the knowing consent of Ohioans, as uncovered by a Cleveland.com/Plain Dealer investigation on September 10.