WKSU:
The Sierra Club is suing the state to see the plans the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is developing for oil and gas drilling in state parks. The club has filed public records requests with the department since October and has been ignored. ODNR had said last fall it would have a model lease for the parks, possibly by January.
The Columbus Dispatch also filed a public records request last month, and quotes an ODNR spokesman saying it is – quote – “ in the final stages of gathering information to comply” the request.
State lawmakers approved drilling on state parts and other public lands last fall. A five-member Oil and Gas Leasing Commission will oversee the leases, but its five-members have not yet been appointed.
I wonder which FOK (friends of Kasich) and former oil/utility CEO's will get those jobs on that oil and gas commission. Even as you read this, the Kasich administration and their buddies have people checking out who owns the mineral rights to various properties.
* The Plain Dealer reports that a real "heavyweight" is coming to Ohio to help raise money for Josh "hardly working" Mandel. Mandel is bringing in Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey.