June 29, 2017
The Honorable John R. Kasich
Governor, State of Ohio
77 S. High St., Floor 30
Columbus, OH 43215
Dear Governor Kasich,
The undersigned organizations urge you to protect the natural resources that we cherish in our state parks and state lands from a provision in Amended Substitute House Bill 49 (H.B. 49). Please veto the provision on appointment authority for the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission (R.C. 1509.71).
The Oil and Gas Leasing Commission provision would fast track oil and gas development in Ohio’s state parks and most of Ohio’s state public lands. This is unacceptable. We cherish our state parks and state lands as places to hike, hunt, fish, and enjoy with our families. Oil and gas development simply does not belong there.
All Ohioans have an equal ownership stake in all state-owned public lands. Likewise, the governorship is a statewide elected office that represents all Ohioans. It is therefore the proper authority to appoint members of the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission. This appointment authority should not be ceded to the legislature.
These are our lands, and we ask that they remain protected for our enjoyment. We enjoy these lands through hunting, fishing, hiking, and many other forms of outdoor recreation. Please stand up for our public lands, defend them from these unwanted attacks, and veto this provision in H.B. 49.
Sincerely,
Sierra Club of Ohio, Jen Miller, Director
ACFAN, Roxanne Groff
Arc of Appalachia Preserve System, Nancy Stranahan, Director
Buckeye Environmental Network, Caitlyn McDaniel, Board Chair
Center for Biological Diversity, Wendy Park, Staff Attorney
Cleveland Environmental Action Network, Anne Caruso, Member
Environmental Law and Policy Center, Environmental Law and Policy Center
Faith in Public Life, Amanda Hoyt, Ohio Director
Frack Free Ohio, Bill Baker, Organizer
FracTracker Alliance, Ted Auch, PhD - Great Lakes Coordinator
Fresh Water Accountability Project, Leatra Harper, Director
Friends of Lower Muskingum River, Matt Halfill, Board Member
Heartwood, Tabitha Tripp, Coordinator
Keep Wayne Wild, Keep Wayne Wild
Mid Ohio Valley Climate Action, Eric Engle, Chairman
Moms Clean Air Force in Ohio, Tracy Sabetta, Director
NAACP Cleveland, Kent Whitley, Chairman of EJ Committee
NAACP Ohio State Conference, Annette McCoy, 2nd Vice President
Natural Resources Defense Council, Sam Williams, Staff Attorney
OEC Action Fund, Heather Taylor-Miesle, President
Ohio Interfaith Power and Light, Sara Ward, Director
Ohio League of Women Voters, Alison Ricker, Co-President, Mary Kirtz Van Nortwick, Co-President
Protect Geauga Parks, Kathryn Hanratty, President
Save our Shawnee Forest, Bill Tipton, Board Member
Simply Living, Sarah Edwards, Director
The Athens Conservancy, Phil Cantino, Board Member
Clyde Gosnell, Ohio Citizen