From Gung-Ho to Uh-Oh: Charting the Government’s Moves on Fracking

Fracking has only recently become a household word, but government involvement with the drilling technique goes back decades. President Obama haschampioned the potential of natural gas drilling combined with more regulation. While there has been mounting evidence of water contamination, few regulations have been implemented. The graphic below traces officials' moves -- and levels of caution -- over time.

Follow the link to follow the chart: http://www.propublica.org/special/from-gung-ho-to-uh-oh-charting-the-governments-moves-on-fracking

Ohio Residents Share Feelings On Fracking

Columbus, Ohio - Several Ohio families gathered in Columbus Tuesday with Valentines in hand to discuss how much they dislike fracking, reported ONN's Stephanie Mennecke. 

"We have to say what is in our heart. We are unable to sleep at night because these injection wells are close to our lands," Erin Renee Ripple of Amesville said.

Athens resident Sarah Conley said that she is worried the livelihood of local farmers will be jeopardized.

"They can stay on their farms and grow us good food rather than them having to sell their property because their land is being polluted because of the fracking practices. It's scary to us," Conley said.

The two families have been making Valentine's Day cards for Gov. John Kasich that said how much they love their land and water, and that they're against injection wells and fracking. 

"We are here to deliver valentines to governor Kasich on Valentine's Day.  We are bringing our love from our farm land really," Amesville resident Karen Carlson said.

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Impose windfall tax on ‘fracking,’ group says

The policy group released a report urging state officials to have Ohio’s “severance tax,” which is now levied mainly on coal extraction, apply also to natural gas and oil mining. Ohio’s tax rate is now second-lowest in the nation to California. By increasing its severance to the same level as Texas — 24th in the nation — Ohio would stand to gain $2.5 billion in new revenue in the next decade, the group reported.

Innovation Ohio also recommended a landowner bill of rights, aimed at protecting property owners who sell or lease mineral rights on their land to gas and oil companies.

 

Another proposal called for the state to enact a “hire Ohio” policy to guide more of what are expected to be thousands of jobs in shale mining to Ohio residents. Many of the jobs are now reportedly going to industry veterans from Louisiana and Texas.

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