Members of the Ohio General Assembly have as much disregard for the quality of public recreation and the environment as they do for the ability of citizens to initiate amendments to Ohio’s Constitution.
The passage of Amended House Bill 507 in late 2022 mandates the leasing of state parks and public lands for fracking and oil and gas development. Previously, state agencies had discretion over the leasing of the land under their control.
Ohio’s state parks, forests and other lands are owned by the citizens. They are supported by public tax dollars, yet the public has no say in determining how these valuable resources, which constitute a public trust, are to be used. Additionally, HB 507 contains no provision for required public notice and comment on leasing decisions involving state lands. It is beyond belief that public policy makers would sanction an industrial land use, to wit, oil and gas production, upon land heretofore dedicated to public recreation!
As a former public official, I know well the critical importance of public notice. The leasing of state-owned lands to private entities for oil and gas production is a matter significant public interest. Ohio’s citizens expect, and deserve, much more from their elected officials!
David A. Lipstreu, Newark
‘Every day is Earth Day’
I was pleased to read about Denis Hayes’ visit to Denison University. (“Denison University welcomes author and Earth Day founder Denis Hayes, April 20″) in the April 13 edition of the Newark Advocate. Hayes was the principal national organizer of the first Earth Day in 1970.
Over 50 years after that first Earth Day, the web of life on earth is in danger. As United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said recently, “the climate time bomb is ticking.”
Fortunately, there are things we can do to solve this problem. Our own Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Zanesville, is a member of the Conservative Climate Caucus, a group whose state belief is, “Solutions should reduce global emissions and not just be ‘feel good’ policies.” I am glad that Rep. Balderson is working on being part of the solution.
Even after Earth Day, every day is Earth Day. If you want to be part of the solution, join the new Licking County chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby at cclusa.org/join. We are organizing ordinary citizens to raise our concerns about climate with Rep. Balderson and other members of Congress from around the country.
We look forward to honoring the intention of that first Earth Day.
Acacia Rhodes, Westerville
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Read More: Ohio lawmakers disregard public by allowing fracking in parks