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Bill Would Allow Oil Drilling, Logging in Ohio Old Growth Forest

Posted on: Friday, 9 December 2005, 18:00 CST

By Dave Clark, The Journal-News, Hamilton, Ohio

Dec. 9--OXFORD -- Hueston Woods' old growth forest may become home to a new species sprouting between the beech and maple -- the chainsaw.

The seed for such a sight was planted in recently-introduced state senate legislation, which would allow oil and gas drilling as well as logging in all state parks and preserves. One of S.B. 193's co-sponsors is local state Sen. Gary Cates who asserted that he is motivated by "pure public interest" to wean Ohioans off foreign oil.

"We can't continue to rely on foreign oil in terms of reliability or in terms of price," he said. "Hopefully, we'll find something that balances the concerns of the environmental community against the needs of our energy sources." However, the environmental community has characterized the current bill as anything but balanced. Jack Shaner, of the Ohio Environmental Council, viewed the proposal as a sop to big industry masquerading as a consumer-friendly response to surging natural gas prices.

"It's a stealth effort to open up state lands to logging, even state historical sites," Shaner said. "I'm not aware of a shortage of firewood (for heating homes)." He further faulted the bill for its failure to mention energy efficiency and conservation -- investments that he believed would yield a better return.

"It does not acknowledge that the vast majority of oil and gas reserves are not on state lands," he said. "It totally ignores what the state Consumer Council has been arguing for -- a comprehensive energy efficiency program statewide."

Sen. Jeffry Armbruster's bill would create an Oil, Gas and Timber Leasing Board which would have exclusive authority to lease drilling and logging rights to private companies. This body would comprise a representative of the oil and gas industry, a representative from the timber industry, the Ohio Division of Forestry chief, the Ohio Mineral Resources chief, and a representative from an environmental organization. Companies could nominate areas to log and drill, subject to board approval. An appeals process also exists, should the board reject a proposal or place conditions on activity.

"The appeals process is stacked in favor of industry," Shaner said.

This bill would usurp the authority of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which currently regulates logging and drilling on public lands.

The ODNR shared Shaner's qualms about the Leasing Board.

"We manage the state forests for both the forests' health and recreation, and we don't want to relinquish that authority to a panel," said Jane Beathard of ODNR.

Other portions of the bill also troubled Shaner including its provision for a capital improvement fund, which would generate money from leases.

"The state could become addicted to that, (leading) to a vicious cycle of drilling and logging," he said.

The proposal also features no environmental assessment requirements regarding industry's impact on habitat, historic features and recreation, according to Shaner. Cates downplayed the omission and anticipated that a final version would contain amendments concerning environmental safeguards.

"(The bill) is a starting point," he said.

The starting point for logging has already begun in Shawnee State Forest, a development Voices of the Forest Founder Cheryl Carpenter viewed with consternation. And these 6,200 acres were opened to timber harvesting under current state regulation. She did not want to see these same pockets of barren land expanding across the state.

"(This will) turn over forest to industry lock, stock and barrel," she said.

"The legislature needs to make a moral decision to scrap the plan."

The bill is currently sitting in the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee headed by Sen. Tom Niehaus. Cates acknowledged that "nothing may come of (the proposal) -- I don't expect it to be on the fast track."

According to the Institute on Money in State Politics, the largest share of Cates' campaign funds were culled from energy and natural resources interests, amounting to $37,850. Mining comprised $20,000 of that total, including $5,000 from the American Coal Company, and $5,000 from Wayne Boich Jr., an executive with ties to the energy industry. Boich gave over $143,000 to Ohio Republicans during the 2002 campaign cycle.

Hueston Woods officials declined comment.

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Source: The Journal-News

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