Public News Service

$A new fracking well pad visible from the property of Ohio resident Randi Pokladnik. (Randi Pokladnik) <br />$

Ohio considers opening 40,000 acres in Wayne National Forest to fracking

Ohio's Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments - and will answer questions in virtual sessions today and tomorrow, on a draft …

The Department of Energy is revoking $37 million previously awarded to Ohio's six-turbine Icebreaker wind project, which has been in the works since 2009. (Florian Kunde/Adobe Stock)

Future of offshore wind in Lake Erie in flux as Icebreaker project shelved

Offshore wind development in the Great Lakes region has had a turbulent history and faced many challenges. Initially considered a promising location …

Climate change board games emphasize teamwork and group success. Either all players win together, or no one survives. (dvande/Adobe Stock)

Board games help players understand climate change

By Debra J. Rosenthal for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection for the Public News Service-Conversation …

This year, Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 507 into law, which approves licenses for companies seeking to extract natural resources from state lands. (Adobe Stock)

OH Groups Want More Public Feedback on Leasing State Lands for Oil, Gas

Residents and environmental groups say they're concerned about public notice and comment processes for leasing state lands for oil and gas extraction…

$On April 7, 2023, Ohio's HB 507 went into effect requiring the leasing of state parks for fracking, redefining methane gas as$ ">

Judge Denies Environmental Groups Request to Block Fracking on State Lands

Environmental Groups faced a setback this week when their legal petition to stop the mandatory leasing of public lands for fracking was denied by a Fr…

Photo caption: An oil refinery in east Toledo, Ohio. (Ted Auch/FrackTracker Alliance 2019)

OH Governor Greenlights Fracking on State Lands

Environmentalists in Ohio say they're concerned oil and gas operations planned on state lands could harm the health and property of citizens living ne…

Acid mine drainage from surface mining in eastern Ohio is just one of the environmental hazards of abandoned mine sites. (Jack Pearce/Flickr)

Mine Reclamation Funding: A 'Game Changer' for Eastern Ohio

Efforts to rectify the lingering environmental legacy of coal mining in Ohio are getting a big financial boost. The new federal infrastructure law …

State and federal policies that protect Ohio's landscape often start at the ballot box. (Dan Keck/Flickr)

Ohioans Encouraged to Speak Up for Nature

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- From the bluffs of Lake Erie to banks of the Ohio River, Ohioans are encouraged to keep the protection of the Buckeye State's …

The Hoosier National Forest in Indiana is just a short drive for Ohioans who want to visit some of the nation's roadless areas. (Forest Service Eastern Region/Flickr)

Should Ohioans Should Care About Keeping Wild Places Wild?

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Alaska may be thousands of miles away from the Buckeye State, but Ohioans still could feel the impact of a Trump administration plan …

Higher temperatures in the future could have a negative impact on corn and soybean production in rural areas, and public health in urban communities. (typographyimages/Pixabay)

7-in-10 Ohio Adults Believe Climate Change Impacting U.S.

CINCINNATI – As Ohioans sweat through record high October temperatures this week, new polling suggests many people are connecting the dots …

Keeping Lake Erie clean is crucial for local recreation, tourism and economic development. (Rona Proudfoot/Flickr)

Coalition: Make Great Lakes a Presidential Priority

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Democratic White House hopefuls will soon square off once again, and they're being asked to explain how they plan to …

Treasured places in Ohio, such as Brandywine Falls, benefit from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. (Erik Drost/Flickr)

Congress Poised to Break New Ground on Land Protections

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Congress is poised to pass landmark legislation that could ensure the future protection of some of Ohio's most precious …

Cuyahoga Valley National Park has more than $45 million in maintenance needs. (Cuyahoga jco/Flickr)

High Hopes for National Park Maintenance Fund in Next Congress

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A bipartisan push in Congress to pay for a multi-billion-dollar maintenance backlog at national parks in Ohio and across …

The Land and Water Conservation Fund has protected access to places such as Ohio's Wayne National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service)

Veterans Raise Their Voices to Protect Public Lands

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Some U.S. military veterans want Congress to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a program …

The Western Basin of Lake Erie is a hot spot for annual algae blooms. (NOAA)

Lake Erie Algae: A Call for a Deeper Dive into the Problem

COLUMBUS, Ohio – While annual reporting and biweekly bulletins warn Ohioans of harmful algae locations and toxicity in Lake Erie, some clean-…

Bobcats are considered an apex predator in Ohio. Bruce Washburn/Flickr)

Researchers: Bobcat Trapping a Premature Move

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A proposal to allow trapping of a once-endangered species in Ohio is being called premature by researchers and wildlife groups…

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative helped restore 2,500 acres of marsh and 600 acres of wetlands in the Mentor Marsh along Lake Erie's shoreline. (Erik Drost/Flickr)

Ohioans on Capitol Hill as a Voice for Lake Erie

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lake Erie can't speak for itself, so dozens of Ohioans will be its voice this week on Capitol Hill. They join hundreds from …

668 plant and animal species have been identified in Ohio's Rock Run Watershed. (Ohio Chapter of the Sierra Club)

Groups Say Ohio's Rock Run Needs Preservation, Not Development

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With massive oak trees, winding streams and hundreds of diverse species, the Rock Run Watershed is one of the state's most remote …

In Ohio, 70 percent of Trump voters polled have visited a national park or monument such as the Grand Canyon. (Pixabay)

Poll: OH Trump Supporters Favor National Monument Protections

COLUMBUS, Ohio – When it comes to the future of public lands in the United States, a new poll suggests Trump supporters in Ohio are not on the …

A 2014 well pad fire in Monroe County occurred not far from Ohio's Wayne National Forest. (FracTracker Alliance)

Report Highlights Fracking's Threat to Ohio's National Forest

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio's Wayne National Forest is among the country's public lands most threatened by fossil fuel interests, according to a new …

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is recommending to the White House that some national monuments be altered. (U.S. Department of the Interior)

Ohio Groups: National Monument Review Sets Terrible Precedent

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Some conservation and sportsman's groups in Ohio are deeply concerned about what a national monument review could mean for the …

State-owned lands such as Shawnee State Forest could be opened to oil and gas drilling if state senators override a veto from the Governor. (ODNR)

Will Ohio Senate Greenlight Oil and Gas Drilling in State Parks?

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio lawmakers could soon greenlight oil and gas development in Ohio state parks and public lands. Last week, the Ohio House …

The Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers Monument in Wilberforce is Ohio's only national monument. (National Park Service)

Trump Sets Sights on Rethinking National Monuments

COLUMBUS, Ohio - An executive order expected today from the Trump administration could end protections for some historical monuments in Ohio and …

Thirteen public water systems were found to be within a half-mile of Class II waste disposal wells in Ohio. (FracTracker Alliance)

Research Maps Ohio Water Supplies. Fracking Activity

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The importance of safe drinking water has become a pressing issue in recent years after lead contamination and algal blooms …

Ohio is one of just five states that still allows for the commercial harvest of turtles. <br />(Matt Lemon/Flickr)

Groups: Turtle Trade Going Unchecked in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Wild turtles in Ohio can be collected unchecked, and some conservation groups say it's time to end the unlimited harvest…

A report links toxic algae in Lake Erie to increased crop production spurred by the nation's Renewable Fuel Mandate. (NASA Earth Observatory/Wikipedia)

Report Examines Unintended Consequences of Biofuel Growth

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The federal Renewable Fuel Standard has led to the destruction of millions of acres of wildlife habitat and has endangered …

A National Wildlife Federation report says climate change, spurred by methane emissions, is threatening some bats in Ohio. (Andrew King/USFWS)

Bats, Jobs and Methane: Report Connects Dots in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Methane emissions from oil and gas production may be invisible, but a new report says the impacts on wildlife, health and …

A poll found Great Lakes voters would be less likely to vote for a presidential candidate promising cuts to restoration funds for Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes. (Sam DeLong/Flickr)

Will the Next President be a "Great Lakes President?"

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Whether it is Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, a broad coalition is hoping that whoever takes the White House is a "Great Lakes …

There are about 300,000 acres of national land in Ohio, including the Wayne National Forest. (Wayne National Forest/Flickr)

Groups Want Presidential Support for America's "Birthright"

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Outdoors enthusiasts and wildlife and environmental groups from states around the country, including Ohio, have a request for …

39 Native American youths are running a long relay to protest a major oil pipeline. (Oceti Sakowin Youth)

2,000-Mile Run for Clean Water Makes Ohio Pit Stops

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A 2,000-mile journey to fight for clean water and land is making its way through Ohio. Native American youths are running from North …

Wayne National Forest is among the nearly 6 million acres of national public lands in Ohio. (Nick Juhasz/Wikipedia)

Ohio Poll: Keep Public Lands in Public Hands

COLUMBUS, Ohio - National forests, parks and other recreation areas are popular destinations for summer travel, and a new poll shows most Ohioans …

Over $2.2 billion federal dollars have funded over 2,900 restoration projects in the Great Lakes. (WP pilot/Wikimedia)

Groups: Great Lakes Economic Engine Needs Presidential Support

COLUMBUS, Ohio - As the presidential candidates turn the focus on Ohio with the state's primary just one week away a coalition of business, industry…

Cuyahoga Valley National park benefits from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Credit: Joanne/Flickr

Funding for Ohio Public Land and Forests in Limbo

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The future of some conservation projects in Ohio hangs in the balance as Congress debates the reauthorization of the Land and Water …

The Land and Conservation Fund helps protect the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Credit: Taximes/Wikimedia

Fight Continues in Support of Public Lands

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Conservation groups are not giving up their fight to continue a program that supports some of Ohio, and the nation's most crowned …

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is among the public lands that receives funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Credit: Ben Lund/Flickr

Congressional Bipartisan Agreement Could Protect Ohio's "Crown Jewels"

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Conservationists are praising a rare bit of bipartisan cooperation in Congress to fund a program for public areas and historic and …

A NWF poll finds a large majority of hunters and anglers favor Clean Water Act standards. Credit: Ed Devereaux/Flickr

Ohio Sportsmen and Women: Smaller Streams Need Protections

MARIETTA, Ohio – Some of Ohio's 110,000 miles of streams could lose potential environmental protections as Congress considers rescinding a …

PHOTO: Tens of thousands of miles of new pipelines are in the planning stages that would carry oil and gas to areas north. Photo courtesy of Nexus Gas Transmission.

Some Ohio Communities are Not Pleased About Proposed Pipelines

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Dozens of Ohioans, including farmers, are teaming up to fight pipeline projects that could run through their property. Almost 40,000…

PHOTO: Some experts say harmful algae blooms in Lake Erie are spurred by climate change and some outdoor groups in Ohio are supporting the EPA's efforts to reduce carbon pollution linked to climate change. Photo credit: Tom Archer/Flickr.

Ohio Sportsmen: Support Clean Power, Support the Great Outdoors

COLUMBUS, Ohio - They love the great outdoors, and they're speaking out about why it needs to be protected, in Ohio and around the nation. A …

PHOTO: July is National Park and Recreation Month, an initiative designed to encourage residents to spend more time enjoying and exploring the outdoors at places like Ash Cave in Hocking Hills State Park. Photo credit: M. Kuhlman.

Ohioans Urged to Enjoy the Great Outdoors in July

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohioans are being encouraged to venture beyond their homes and offices this month, and head into the outdoors during National Park …

PHOTO: A new report finds species such as the brook trout in Ohio face an uncertain future due to the impacts of climate change. Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Report: Warming Climate Hurting Ohio's Next Generation of Wildlife

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Parenting is a tough job, and a new report suggests it's becoming increasingly stressful for wildlife in Ohio. According to …

$PHOTO: The Listening Project team will survey people in Carroll and Columbiana to find out how hydraulic fracturing is impacting their lives. Photo credit: Paul Feezel.$

Does the Reality of Fracking in Ohio Match the Rhetoric?

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Some of those most impacted by the fracking boon in Ohio have a chance to share their stories. Volunteers with the …

PHOTO: Environmental advocates say an oil spill this week in southwest Ohio is a reminder of the often unrecognized costs associated with oil and gas development. Photo credit: EPA.

Ohio Oil Spill Raises Concerns About Impact of Oil and Gas Development

CINCINNATI – Crews are continuing the clean up of an estimated 10,000 gallons of crude oil that spilled from a broken underground pipeline in So…

IMAGE: FracTracker has a new map highlighting current and proposed pipelines that would run through the Buckeye State. Image credit: FracTracker.

Keystone XL: Not the Only Pipeline on Ohio's Radar

COLUMBUS, Ohio – While the nation has been focused on the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline, Ohioans may not realize how many other pipeline …

$PHOTO:The recent West Virginia chemical spill is heightening concerns about a U.S. Coast Guard proposal to allow the waste from hydraulic fracturing or �fracking� to be shipped on waterways, including the Ohio River. Photo courtesy of noaa.gov.$

Concerns Continue over Fracking Waste on the Ohio River

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In the wake of the recent chemical spill in West Virginia that tainted the water supply for 300,000 people, there's a call to …

PHOTO: There are concerns about how funding for Ohio's National Parks will fare in the next round of budget negotiations on Capitol Hill. Photo credit: Amar Veluri/istockphoto.

Ohio's National Parks Brace for Budget Decision

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The future of some of Ohio's most treasured places remains uncertain as budget negotiations continue in Washington. The …

PHOTO: A new report examines the way climate change is impacting Ohio's big game and their habitat. Photo courtesy NWF.

Report: A Warming World Threatens Ohio’s Big Game Hunting

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's white-tailed deer firearms hunting season is coming up, and a new report examines the ways climate change is creating an …

$PHOTO: A new report finds fracking operations in Ohio are producing 30 million gallons of wastewater each year. Photo: fracking site. Courtesy Western Resource Advocates.$

Report: Enough Fracking Wastewater to Flood the Statehouse

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A new report is the first of its kind to measure the footprint of fracking in Ohio. Released by the Environment Ohio Research and …

PHOTO: Rising water temperatures are not only posing a threat to Ohio fish, but also local economies, according to a report released this week by the National Wildlife Federation. Walleye jumping out of Lake Erie. Courtesy NWF.

Report: Ohio’s Freshwater Fish Can’t Survive Warming World

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Whether its catching walleye in Lake Erie or catfish in the Ohio River, fishing is an important part of Ohio's outdoor …

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OH: Public Lands/Wilderness