The Oil and Gas Land Management Commission will accept bids for drilling under the Keen Wildlife Area in eastern Ohio, but denied a proposal at another wildlife area.
The state found waste could be migrating through fractures in the shale and that the impacts create an “imminent danger” to health and the environment.
The commission approved bids to frack under Salt Fork State Park as well as wildlife areas and other state property, while protestors yelled and held signs.
Environmental and hunting groups claim an Ohio commission failed to consider impacts of fracking on the environment, users of the properties and other factors required by Ohio law.
A crowd shouted and chanted "Save our parks!" as an Ohio commission approved fracking under the state’s largest park and two wildlife areas in the eastern part of the state.
The Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission approved four proposals to drill for gas and oil on some state-owned lands, but delayed action on fracking under Ohio state parks.
Dozens of Ohioans say their names were used without permission on pro-fracking letters sent to a commission considering proposals to frack under state parks.
Groups are suing to halt a new law that went into effect on April 7 that would accelerate gas drilling under state-owned lands, like parks, until new rules are in place.