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SHANER continued fron page 21
KAMINSKI continued from page 22
“We saw — because of our airport, because of our highways, because of rail and because of the business infrastructure that exists here already — we had an opportunity to be a business capital, if not the business capital for the Utica,” he said. The level of activity has calmed down a bit now that the land rush for mineral rights is over and drillers must wait for midstream infrastructure to be built before they can produce much oil and gas. But that situation just means a slight slowdown from 2012, when about two companies per week were contacting the chamber asking for help in securing local sites for their businesses. Meanwhile, Mr. Kaminski has begun looking further forward, such as at how the region’s chemical and plastics companies can benefit from increased domestic gas production. He isn’t concerned about whether the play will continue to develop. It will, he said, and he’ll be ready to react and help businesses to participate in the process. — Dan Shingler
To drill the well haphazardly so that the well doesn’t bring the oil and gas out of the ground properly, or causes environmental problems in the community, makes little sense.
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Mr. Shaner said he’d like the proposed act’s individual measures to be considered by lawmakers, even if they won’t consider the measure in total. The act contains 32 provisions that Mr. Shaner says would increase the transparency and accountability of the oil and gas industry, while protecting landowner rights. Among other things, it calls for a 5% severance tax on oil and gas, to be used exclusively to fund well inspection and enforcement measures, as well as for the ability of affected landowners to appeal the issuance of a drilling permit. Some of those measures are in step with Gov. John Kasich, who has called for higher taxes on the oil and gas industry. But others run counter to what the governor and oil and gas industry representatives say is necessary for the industry to expand here, such as permits that can not be appealed. “We don’t begrudge folks rights to sign on the dotted line, we just think they should have better protection,” Mr. Shaner said. And he reiterated that his goal is not to stop drilling, only to make it as safe as possible. “Oil and gas drilling has been around in Ohio for more than a hundred years, (and) it’s probably go to be around for a least a few more decades,” Mr. Shaner said. “Our concern is protection of our air, land and water resources, public health and communities.” — Dan Shingler
DAVE HILL HILL continued from page 22
“Our regulations in Ohio meet or exceed the federal EPA standards, and we have extra testing done for permitting of injection disposal wells in areas with a history of seismic activity,” Mr. Hill said. “Ohio gets it right in many ways.” As for horizontal drilling and fracking generally, Mr. Hill said the oil and gas industry has a good track record to support its claims of safety. With more than 50 years of hydraulic fracturing drilling behind us, Mr. Hill said, and more than 1 million fracked wells drilled in the United States (and more than 2 million worldwide), the evidence supports the industry, he said. “What I keep telling people is that the drilling companies invest millions of dollars in every well they drill, and it is in their best interest to keeping the well operating efficiently and cleanly based upon their investment,” Mr. Hill said. “To drill the well haphazardly so that the well doesn’t bring the oil and gas out of the ground properly, or causes environmental problems in the community, makes little sense.” Besides, he points out, he’s not just a driller, but he also resides where the drilling takes place. “And that is the message I try to get out to people,” he said. “I live here and my kids and grandkids live here as well, and we and the other drillers operate in ways where we are good neighbors and we want everyone in the state to benefit from the economic development — especially good jobs — as we become a prime source of energy in the world.” — Dan McGraw
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