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Drills could head to state parks |
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Wednesday, 26 December 2007 |
By B.J. BETHEL
Assistant Managing Editor
ST. MARYS — Ohio lawmakers are considering plans to allow drilling for both natural gas and oil in state parks — a move one senator says could yield positive impacts.
According to an Associated Press report, the bill would have a provision that would allow drilling on lands that are covered by concrete, asphalt, gravel, turf, crops or fields that have plants or trees not exceeding 10 years of growth.
“I think it has been talked about for quite a few years,” Grand Lake St. Marys Park Manager Craig Morton said. “I don’t know if it would be considered (here). I haven’t heard anything specific to this park.”
Drilling in state parks is a subject the Ohio legislature discussed for years. With higher gas prices, especially in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, talks began to heat up.
A bill was proposed in 2005 that would have allowed drilling. The bill, which was unsuccessful at the time, would have allowed drilling on state lands and also under Lake Erie. One-eighth of drilling proceeds would have gone to the state.
A newer proposal would allow drilling, but only if it is done in a way that protects the environment.
“What they are talking about is part of the renewable energy bill,” State Senator Keith Faber, R-Celina, said. “There is a requirement for it to be done in a responsible way.”
Discussion for drilling centered mainly on parks in the eastern part of the state. Those are the parks believed to have the most oil and gas reserves underneath them.
Faber said the resources would help reduce the state’s need on foreign oil and gas and also be a benefit to the state park system.
“The revenue would be targeted to the maintenance of our park system,” Faber said. “Certainly we need access to all resources to reduce our reliance on foreign oil.”
Grand Lake St. Marys use to have oil reserves underneath it but they were tapped out years ago. Newer technologies could allow for the discovery of new reserves underneath the lake, but it would be expensive.
“There may be some reserves accessible by new technology, but my guess is the cost of getting to that would exceed any benefit,” Faber said.
Wherever the drilling takes place, Faber said he believes tapping those resources could be a benefit to the state and to the park system.
“It we got proven natural reserves that are available and it can be done in a way that is environmentally friendly, it’s probably a net benefit for Ohio,” Faber said.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 31 December 2007 )
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