Ohio lawmaker reintroduces bill requiring chemical disclosure for fracking in state parks
An Ohio lawmaker has reintroduced legislation that would require oil and gas well owners to publicly disclose chemicals used in drilling operations within state parks.
House Bill 71, sponsored by State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan, D-Parma, would mandate that horizontal well operators provide the trade names and chemical components of all drilling fluids and substances to the Ohio Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management. The division would then post this information on its website.
Brennan cited a Jan. 2 well pad explosion in Guernsey County, near Salt Fork State Park, as an example of the risks associated with oil and gas exploration near public lands. Although the explosion occurred outside the park's boundaries, Brennan emphasized the need for increased transparency.
“This tragedy serves as a reminder that public lands are now open to oil and gas exploration,” Brennan said.
The legislation follows the passage of House Bill 507, which requires the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to permit fracking on state lands. Brennan criticized the current lack of federal oversight and limited state regulations on fracking.
The proposed bill would amend an Ohio law requiring chemical disclosure at least 30 days before drilling operations begin.
Current Ohio law requires operators to file detailed well completion records, including information on drilling fluids and chemicals, with the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management. However, the existing law allows for trade secret exemptions.
Brennan pointed to studies indicating that states with chemical disclosure requirements experience fewer pollution incidents and spills. He also cited incident records showing at least 1,900 well-related incidents reported in Ohio between 2015 and 2023.
"Studies show that states requiring the disclosure of fracking chemicals experience less pollution, fewer spills of fracking fluids, and fewer hazardous chemicals being used for fracking than states with no disclosure requirements," Brennan said.
Brennan’s proposed legislation specifically targets drilling within state parks, aiming to increase transparency and public access to information about the chemicals used in sensitive areas.
The bill has been assigned to a committee for further consideration.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife recently concluded a public comment period on a proposed horizontal drilling project for oil and gas extraction beneath the Zepernick Wildlife Area in Columbiana County. The division has entered into a mineral rights lease with Encino Energy Partners. All drilling infrastructure will be located outside the 512-acre wildlife area’s boundaries.
