David Miller, November 15, 2017
The following statement can be attributed in full, or in part, to Nathan Johnson, Director of Public Lands at the Ohio Environmental Council:
“Today, Senator Rob Portman decided to vote in favor of opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development. After years of being a champion for Lake Erie and Ohio’s other natural places, it is disappointing to see this vote to damage one of America’s most treasured, untouched places.
“Sen. Portman’s vote in The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee was instrumental in moving this legislation towards a full vote in the Senate. This bill would open up the wildest and most pristine place in the United States to the scars of oil development.
“We hope that Sen. Portman will continue being a conservation champion by changing his vote on this issue once it goes before the whole Senate. Sen. Portman has an opportunity to protect public lands across the country by voting against allowing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.”