State receives requests to conduct fracking in Leesville Wildlife Area in Carroll County

The Oil and Gas Land Management Commission has received two requests to open the Leesville Wildlife Area in Carroll County to hydraulic fracturing.

The requests, which were received by the commission June 24 and posted Wednesday, seek permission to drill for oil or natural gas on 65 acres of public land in Orange Township and 62 acres in Monroe Township.

The requests will be reviewed by the commission and go through a public comment period before any development. Under Ohio law, the companies that submit nominations are anonymous until bids are awarded so it's unclear who is seeking to open the Leesville Wildlife Area to fracking.

The five members of the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission are appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine.

Last year, Ohio House Bill 507 went into effect. The law speeds up the leasing process for oil and gas companies looking to drill in state parks. It also changed wording of a 2011 law from state agencies "may" lease public lands for drilling to they "shall," essentially requiring the agencies to lease public lands provided bids meet certain conditions.

The change has streamlined the leasing process and rapidly increased drilling for oil and gas on public lands.

The commission this year awarded bids for exploration to drill under Salt Fork , Ohio's largest state park in Guernsey County. The park has been nominated five separate times for drilling. Two were approved, two were denied and one is still pending.

In February, the commission approved a bid for Texas-based company EOG Resources to drill for oil and gas in Brown Township in Carroll County at the Ohio Department of Transportation Malvern outpost.

What is fracking? Impacts of hydraulic fracking, natural gas explained.

What impact could fracking have?

Supporters of public land leases for oil and gas drilling say it generates revenue, but opponents are concerned with environmental impacts, particularly in state parkland and wildlife areas.

"We've been fracking now in Carroll County for years, and it's taking place in nearly all the townships," Carroll County Commissioner Robert Wirkner said. "There's been problems here and there, but not widespread problems, so I really don't anticipate there would be any differences between fracking under the wildlife area to any other place in the county."

Cathy Cowan Becker, co-founder and steering committee member of Save Ohio Parks , a group that was formed in response to last year's law change, said fracking can have harmful environmental impacts.

She said fracking uses millions of gallons of water that becomes waste.

"That can never be cleaned or put into a water system again," she said. "That water is gone forever."

Cowan Becker said other impacts include air pollution, light pollution and noise.

"You're basically industrializing an area that is meant to be preserved for people to recreate in," she said.

Cowan Becker also said it is unfair to Ohioans to keep companies anonymous when they seek to nominate state lands for fracking.

"We're the ones who pay the taxes. Our state parks are incredibly popular, we're the ones who use those parks," she said. "We should know who is asking to irrevocably damage them."

What is Leesville Wildlife Area?

The Leesville Wildlife Area totals 394 acres in Carroll County, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources . It borders Leesville Lake .

The area is frequented for hunting, fishing and hiking. Native wildlife living there include deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and grey squirrel.

Numerous youth and summer camps surround the Leesville Lake. Sites include Ohio FAA Camp Muskingum in Orange Township and Falcon Camp in Carrollton.

There is already an oil and gas presence nearby. Encino Energy has several active well pads nearby, including one on Caddy Road SW and another on Autumn Road SW. Chesapeake Energy also has pads in the area.

Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: State receives requests to conduct fracking in Leesville Wildlife Area in Carroll County