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Environmentalists Criticize Ohio Drilling Rules
By: Associated Press
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Environmental advocates are among dozens of witnesses lining up to testify on a bill laying out Ohio's new regulations for horizontal shale drilling and the use of renewable energy.
The House Public Utilities Committee is slated to debate rules Monday. They are part of a wide-ranging energy bill that passed the Ohio Senate with support of Republicans and some Democrats.
Concern remains among environmental groups.
The bill requires that well operators disclose chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. Environmentalists say details will be scant and reporting will come only after wells have been drilled.
The Natural Resources Defense Council also has criticized the bill for removing the public's ability to appeal state-issued drilling permits.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says the rules are among the toughest in the nation.