Fracking In Our State Parks

[irishbobcat]

The State of Ohio is considering selling Jefferson Lake State Park to Jefferson County. The state is considering to sell the park for a measly $1 to allow for drilling and timbering. All state parks belong to Ohio taxpayers, and the people of Ohio need to be heard! If the sale goes through, Jefferson County officials plan to turn this beloved park into oil fields and fragmented forests.

The people of Ohio have supported the preservation of our state's natural legacy regardless of the economic times or political party. In fact, our state park system was started during the Great Depression. Once again, it is time for the state to uphold the public trust, to protect our parks from sale to Big Oil and Gas, and to allow all of the stakeholders their right to participate in this process.  A back door deal is not in the public interest of Ohio's most precious lands. Timbering, drilling, access roads, and construction result in habitat destruction, water contamination, air pollution, odors, noise, and toxic by-products. 


The sale of Jefferson Lake State Park would set a bad precedent for the entire state park system, and I expect Ohio's last remaining natural areas to be preserved for future generations. Our lands should not be sold off, drilled, mined, or compromised in any way.  Please protect all state parks!