Columbus, OH — The Ohio House of Representatives today passed amended Sub. House Bill 110 (Sub. HB 110), their version of the state of Ohio’s operating budget for FY2022 and 2023. The proposed budget reduces funding for water quality improvements and aggressively promotes oil and gas development in Ohio’s state parks and public lands.
In response, the following quote can be attributed in full or part to Trish Demeter, Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund Chief of Staff:
“The House budget bill, Sub. House Bill 110, eliminates key provisions to protect Ohioans’ drinking water and drags Ohio backward by aggressively promoting oil and gas leasing in state parks and state public lands.
“The much-needed increased investment in the H2Ohio program was almost entirely removed in the substitute budget bill through reductions in proposed funding for the Ohio EPA’s water infrastructure projects. Given that Ohio’s drinking water and stormwater infrastructure recently received an abysmal D+ rating from the American Society of Civil Engineers, we know there is tremendous need for this type of funding in communities across the state. The H2Ohio program is poised to continue improving drinking water quality for Ohioans if the resources are made available. We urge the Senate to restore this funding for the health and wellbeing of Ohioans in urban, suburban and rural communities. The first year of this program proves its success; we should be doing more, not less, to ensure clean, safe drinking water for all who call Ohio home.
“Public lands have never been more popular, the outdoor recreation industry never more lucrative, and the climate emergency never more pressing. But the Ohio House’ response is to open our state parks to oil and gas development and fracking. The legislation will make it state policy to “promote” oil and gas development in Ohio’s state public lands, frees state agencies to immediately begin leasing, and mandates that all state leasing revenues be plowed back into more leasing and fracking in state public lands. If this language makes it into law it will be a major failure of conservation leadership.”
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The Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund is committed to protecting and enhancing the environment and the health of all Ohio communities. We seek to protect and enhance the environment, economic viability, and health of all Ohio communities by expanding access to public lands, advancing critical environmental priorities, holding policy makers accountable, and electing environmental champions.
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