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One million acres of forest protected under The Conservation Fund, including in OR; Trump seeks to set aside his New York hush money guilty verdict after Supreme Court immunity ruling; 'Share the Pennies' weatherization program tackles climate solutions, reduces cost; Utah feels the impact of California's ban on gestation crates.

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SCOTUS gives former President Trump a huge win in terms of immunity, which might apply to charges of election interference. A new poll finds future court appointments are crucial for voters, and President Biden continues to face post-debate calls to leave the race.

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Ugly, imperfect produce destined for the landfill is being upcycled by a California candy company, a Texas volunteer uses his Navy training to map the gaps in broadband, and Pennsylvania has a new commission tasked with reversing its shrinking rural population.

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

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Monday, April 8, 2024   

Ohio's Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments - and will answer questions in virtual sessions today and tomorrow, on a draft environmental assessment about the impacts of opening up 40,000 acres of Wayne National Forest to oil and gas leasing.

The lands are located primarily in Monroe, Noble and Washington counties.

Environmental advocates - like Roxanne Groff, a member of the Athens County's Future Action Network - said they don't believe the assessment fully captures the widespread loss of habitat or recreational opportunities fracking on public lands would unleash.

Groff said research shows fracking comes with serious environmental degradation and water contamination.

"We've got methane release, we've got toxic radioactive waste that has to be disposed of from the fracking extraction," said Groff. "We've got impacts to streams from water withdrawals, or possible contamination with spills."

The latest draft assessment comes after a federal court ruled in 2020 that an earlier version of the document did not consider potential impacts on federally protected species and waterways.

The Bureau says it's accepting public comments until May 6.

Randi Pokladnik, a member of Save Ohio Parks, said she's concerned about air pollution from fracking.

According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the process can release dangerous petroleum hydrocarbons into the air - and increase ground-level ozone, heightening residents' risk of developing asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

"People that live in areas, we know from peer-reviewed studies that are impacted by fracking," said Pokladnik, "have higher levels of radon in their basements."

Recent polling shows most Ohio residents are either strongly or somewhat opposed to fracking as a means to increase energy production in the state.





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