Fracking pumpjacks. These pieces of equipment are crucial to oil field and fracking operations. (Getty Images.)
This story was originally published by Energy News Network .
An Ohio commission is arguing its decisions last fall to allow oil and gas drilling under a state park and two wildlife areas are final and cannot be appealed.
Environmental groups challenging the Ohio Oil & Gas Land Management Commission say it failed to follow state law when it approved land parcels for leasing of drilling rights at Salt Fork State Park, Zepernick Wildlife Area and Valley Run Wildlife Area. Among other things, state law says the commission must consider nine factors in reaching its decisions, including environmental impacts, consequences for visitors or users of state lands, public comments or objections, economic issues, and others.
State lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss , claiming the court can’t review the decisions because the statute doesn’t expressly provide for judicial review.