Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 7:57AM APNewsBreak: Ohio AG seeks tougher drilling laws
By JULIE CARR SMYTH
Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio's top law enforcer is seeking tougher environmental sanctions on polluters in the oil and gas industry and full disclosure of the chemicals used in the drilling technique called fracking.
In an Associated Press interview Wednesday, Attorney General Mike DeWine further called for his office or another state agency to be empowered to help landowners with complaints about lease agreements for drilling.
He said a recent legal review by his staff revealed "Ohio's laws simply are not adequate" in the three areas.
DeWine said civil penalties in the state should be raised from a maximum of $20,000 for the duration of a violation to $10,000 a day. That would bring fines in line with states such as Pennsylvania, Colorado and Texas.
He says other states also require chemicals be disclosed.
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