OEC and Earthjustice file merits brief in lawsuit against the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission

Emily Bacha, Vice President of Public Affairs, February 8, 2024

COLUMBUS, OH — The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) and Earthjustice, on behalf of the OEC and Save Ohio Parks, filed their merit brief today in Save Ohio Parks et al v. Oil & Gas Land Management Commission. The parties argued that the Commission violated Ohio law when it failed to hold a hearing and didn’t consider required statutory factors when placing state land up for bid for oil and gas leases.

The parties’ brief can be read in its entirety here.

The following quote can be attributed, in whole or in part, to Chris Tavenor, General Counsel for the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC):

“The Oil and Gas Land Management Commission simply did not follow the law when it failed to hold a hearing or consider the required statutory factors. The state absolutely should not be leasing any of its state lands for oil and gas development, but if it’s going to lease the land, it needs to follow its own rules in making those decisions. Our brief makes clear how they’ve failed to do what they’re legally required to do.”

The following quote can be attributed, in whole or in part, to Loraine McCosker, steering committee member of Save Ohio Parks:

“Save Ohio Parks volunteers have worked for more than a year researching harms and advocating for protections of our state public lands from leasing by the oil and gas industry. The lawsuit challenges the secretive and uncommunicative process and alleged illegal actions of the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission. We look forward to a ruling that protects lands belonging to the people of Ohio for future generations, not a few legislators in power temporarily or the extractive oil and gas industry.”

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The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) is the state’s most comprehensive and effective environmental advocate for a healthier, more sustainable Ohio. The OEC develops and ensures the implementation of forward-thinking, science-based, pragmatic solutions to secure healthy air, land, and water for all who call Ohio home.