A recent announcement from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management could allow fracking in the national forest for the first time.
Wayne National Forest in southeast Ohio could see fracking opportunities for the first time ever.
A recent lease sale announced by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) could make fracking available in the forest. The lease sale scheduled for September 15 includes 41 parcels of land totaling 2,840 acres.
For drilling to take place in Wayne National Forest, the winning bidder would require a BLM permit.
Since 2024, reports show that Ohio has opened approximately 22,000 acres to oil and gas companies. House Bill 507, signed by Republican Governor Mike DeWine in January 2023, made this possible.
House Bill 507 required the state to open up land, including state parks, for oil and gas development.
According to another report, the fracking that has taken place since House Bill 507 was signed into law has generated $314 million in revenue in Ohio.
A separate arrangement that opened up 6,000 acres of Salt Fork State Park for fracking generated substantial revenue for Ohio.
“The company agreed to pay a $58 million signing bonus and 20% of future production revenue. At least 30% of revenue from any lease agreement must flow back into the state park or wildlife area at issue. The rest goes to Ohio’s general reserve fund,” said a report on the arrangement.
Reports also show that the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission approved 21 bids covering 15,000 acres of land. Most of the land is part of the Egypt Valley Wildlife Area.
The scheduled lease sale marks the first held in Wayne National Forest since March 2017.
Mike Chadsey, a spokesman for the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, said the leasing process is “deliberate, transparent, and built on years of environmental review.”
“Ohio has a long track record of producing oil and natural gas safely and responsibly, demonstrating that responsible energy development and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand. Additionally, due to the Wayne’s patchwork of parcels, leasing federal minerals helps those landowner/mineral owners who are adjacent to the Wayne realize the full economic potential of their property,” Chadsey said.
The announcement comes as President Trump’s administration prioritizes American energy development and production.
