March 19th, 2015
Ohio’s oil and gas industry and environmental groups are satisfied with a compromise reached this week on one bill before the state legislature, but both camps remain divided on controversial community right-to-know provisions in another pending bill. Gov. John Kasich’s House budget bill, House Bill 64, would exempt oil and gas operations from providing hazardous chemical information directly to local authorities and emergency responders. Critics say those provisions conflict with federal community right-to-know requirements. Similar terms were proposed last year. HB 64 also renews efforts to raise taxes on oil and gas operations. The industry opposes those provisions. Meanwhile, the Ohio House