Reps. Rader, Cockley Oppose Leasing, Fracking of Egypt Valley Wildlife Area

COLUMBUS — State Reps. Tristan Rader (D-Lakewood) and Christine Cockley (D-Columbus) today sent a letter to the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission to oppose new permits for oil and gas development under the Egypt Valley Wildlife Area. 

“The practice of exploiting public lands and parks must stop,” said Rep. Rader. “Prioritizing clean water, clean air, and healthy ecosystems is not something that we can continue to put off.”

“These lands belong to the public and should not be taken for granted,” said Rep. Cockley. “Our parks and state wildlife areas are cherished by countless Ohioans, and opening these sites up to extraction and pollution is a step in the wrong direction.” 

Egypt Valley Wildlife Area encompasses 18,000+ acres of land in southeastern Ohio and contains Lake Piedmont. This wildlife area reflects a decades-long conservation effort to protect open lands and restore the region after over a century of coal mining. 

Reps. Rader and Cockley have introduced House Bill 399, a bill that would prohibit oil and gas removal from under Lake Erie or a state park to combat continued extraction from the state’s remaining natural spaces.  

The Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission (OGLMC) is accepting public comments on 26-DNR-0001 and 26-DNR-0002 until March 7th, 2026. Public comments can be filed using the Nomination Comment Portal on the OGLMC website.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The full letter to the OGLMC is attached to this press release.