Two new nominations. One imminent threat to Ohio wildlife. 

You may remember our previous emails about an unnamed oil and gas company that applied to frack Egypt Valley Wildlife Area.

Well, they are at it again. Recently the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission received two nominations to frack over 6,600 acres of Egypt Valley – some of the largest swaths of public land ever nominated for fracking. Over a third of Egypt Valley is now at risk.

Tell the commission that there will no more drilling on public land.

COMMENT ON NOMINATIONS 26-DNR-0001 AND 26-DNR-0002

Located in Belmont County, Egypt Valley is the largest wildlife area in Ohio – home to deer, turkeys, rabbits and a host of wildlife, while also serving as a popular destination for hikers, hunters, fishers, and birdwatchers.

Egypt Valley has already been through decades of strip mining, with scars still visible across the land. Now just as the forests, grasslands, and ponds are starting to recover, oil and gas companies want to frack it.

Records show the oil and gas industry in Ohio has an accident or incident every 1.5 days. Last January, a major explosion at a Gulfport wellpad near Salt Fork State Park forced the evacuation of nearby residents for a day. Last August, an explosion at an orphan well in Wayne National Forest sent six workers to the hospital; two later died.

Tell the commission to deny fracking in Egypt Valley Wildlife Area.

COMMENT ON NOMINATIONS 26-DNR-0001 AND 26-DNR-0002

Below is a sample comment you can make your own by telling a personal story or expressing why preserving Egypt Valley Wildlife Area is important to you. We ask that you leave separate comments on 26-DNR-0001 and 26-DNR-0002.

Just go to the Nomination Comment Form, choose Nomination 26-DNR-0001, and input your comment. Once you have submitted your first comment, go back to the Nomination Comment Form, choose Nomination 26-DNR-0002, and submit the same comment again.

You are welcome to draw from our sample comment, but please personalize it for maximum impact.  

To the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission:

I am writing to strongly oppose Nomination 26-DNR-0001 and 26-DNR-0002 which would allow oil and gas leasing and fracking at Egypt Valley Wildlife Area.

Egypt Valley is one of Ohio’s largest wildlife areas. Locals have used these lands to hunt, fish, birdwatch, and enjoy our state’s great natural beauty. Fracking brings in traffic, noise, air pollution, and methane leaks.

Egypt Valley was strip mined for coal before Ohio acquired it in 1995. Since then, we have invested much in its restoration process. Fracking the land is going in the wrong direction. When it was given to the state, its expressed purpose was restoration and preservation.

Each well pad uses millions of gallons of locally sourced water while also producing toxic waste that must be managed forever. This waste poses the risk of ending up in our drinking water or on our dinner table.

At the center of Egypt Valley is Piedmont Lake, a source of water for wildlife and destination for boaters and families. Putting Piedmont Lake at risk is unacceptable.

Thank you.