Wake Up, Ohio!
Fracking is creeping into our state parks, and if you're not already angry, it’s time to be. Just think: over 11,600 acres—yeah, you read that right—of state parks have been approved for fracking since 2023, with the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission (OGLMC) looking to double that number. It's madness. How about instead we protect what we have? Because once they destroy these lands, they’re gone for good.
Deadlines Are Looming
Set your calendars, people. If you're an Ohioan who cares about your state parks, you better have March 7 and 15 circled in red. That’s when comments are due to prevent the fracking of 6,639 acres in the Egypt Valley Wildlife Area and an additional 2,109 acres at Salt Fork State Park. Don't just sit there sipping your coffee; get your thoughts down on paper and let your voice be heard. Deadlines aren’t suggestions; they’re damn serious!
Natural Wealth vs. Industrial Greed
You ever walk through Salt Fork State Park? It’s like stepping into a postcard—20,000 acres of some of Ohio’s best. People camp, fish, hike, and enjoy nature as it was meant to be. Rebecca Malik of Save Ohio Parks has it right when she says that this land was set aside for us, not to be plundered by a supermajority only looking to cash in with the oil and gas industry.
“Can we afford to lose that much of our precious freshwater? I don't think so, but few in Ohio government seem to care.” - Lea Harper, Freshwater Accountability Project
Incident Reports? Hard Pass!
You don’t need to be a genius to understand risks. Fracking isn't just about drilling; it’s about contamination, accidents, and a litany of other issues that make you lose sleep at night. Stats show that since 2015, there have been around 1,900 incidents related to gas and oil—you do the math. That’s an accident every 1.5 days! Not the kind of odds you'd want to gamble with on your family’s health or the environment, is it?
Pressuring Officials
For crying out loud, Gov. Mike DeWine has ignored calls for a fracking moratorium despite the explosion that evacuated an entire township back in January 2025. We’re not talking about a minor inconvenience; this was a full-on evacuation! If that doesn’t scream danger, I don't know what does.
Community Voices Matter
Ohioans are waking up, and that’s a good thing. Local groups like Washington County for Safe Drinking Water are not just sitting back. They're pushing for a moratorium on injection wells due to the risk of groundwater contamination. It's not just environmentalists crying foul; it's regular folks concerned about their health and drinking water.
Freshwater: Ohio's Lifeblood
Take a moment to think about this: up to 1.9 billion gallons of fresh water will be gobbled up and turned into toxic waste through fracking. Do you want that water coming from your lakes and streams? Common sense says no. Every well, every injection point, could contaminate groundwater. We’re talking about the very essence of life here.
What You Can Do
Engagement is crucial. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the political machine—like shouting into a void. But every comment counts. Check out Save Ohio Parks for details on how to submit your voice. The fight isn’t lost yet; every document submitted is another nail in the coffin for fracking under our beloved parks.
Conclusion: Stand Up
These parks were set aside for the pleasure of Ohio’s people. They’re not meant to be turned into cash-grabbing schemes that promise short-term gains for a few while leaving a toxic legacy for future generations. Stand up, engage, and let’s give the OGLMC something to think about when they meet. Ohio's parks deserve better!
