The Ohio Environmental Council Announces Ad Buy Highlighting Sen. Portman’s Recent Vote Against Methane Emissions Standards

David Miller, May 17, 2017

Following Sen. Portman’s vote to allow the oil and gas industry to leak methane gas on public lands, the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) is releasing a statewide ad buy highlighting the vote for all Ohioans.

In a procedural vote on H.J. Res. 36 that ultimately failed 51-49, Sen. Portman voted in favor of utilizing the Congressional Review Act to strip the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) rules limiting methane emissions on federally owned lands.

“Senator Portman simply made the wrong choice in voting for an effort that would have wasted hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars, while at the same time degrading our public lands, including the Wayne National Forest. It was a lose-lose vote,” said Heather Taylor-Miesle, Executive Director of the OEC. “While we’re thankful that the rule was ultimately left in place, we were disappointed in Sen. Portman’s vote, especially as he has demonstrated a willingness to lead on environmental issues, like the drive to keep the EPA’s Region V office, and maintaining Great Lakes funding in the federal budget. We’re eager for Ohioans across the state to see this ad and recognize the danger of Sen. Portman’s vote, while urging him to support common sense environmental and conservation efforts in the future. ”

To view the statewide ad, CLICK HERE.

The rule in question, which was finalized in November and went into effect in January, was created by the BLM to cut the waste of natural gas owned by the American people through both accidental leaks and intentional venting and flaring. More than $330 million in natural gas is wasted each year on public lands across the United States.

In recent months, thousands of Americans asked the Senate to stand up for our public lands and against the oil and gas lobby. The OEC hosted a tele-town hall in April in which nearly 5,000 Ohioans joined to voice concerns about this rule, and encourage Sen. Portman to vote against repealing the measure.

In addition to airing on television in Cincinnati, Ohio from May 18-20, the ad will be seen on multiple online platforms as part of a statewide digital ad buy.