HB 399: Prohibit oil and gas removal from under Lake Erie or a state park
The state of Ohio is taking steps to protect its natural resources. The bill prohibits the removal of oil or gas from under Lake Erie or any state park. The director of natural resources has the authority to issue permits and make leases for sand, gravel, stone, and other minerals from the lake's bed, but only under certain conditions and with the approval of other state officials. Permits and leases must be issued for a minimum of one year and a maximum of ten years, and the taking and removal must be within fixed boundaries that do not conflict with the rights of littoral owners. No permit or lease will be issued to take or remove oil or gas from the lake's bed, and no person can remove substances from the lake's bed without a permit or lease. The director of natural resources has the authority to adopt and enforce rules for the administration of this section. The bill also prohibits…
| Sep. 15, 2025 | Referred to committee: Natural Resources |
| Jul. 24, 2025 | Introduced |
As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session
Cosponsors: Representatives Brennan, Somani, Grim, McNally, Brownlee, Russo, Synenberg
1509.023 of the Revised Code to prohibit the 2
removal of oil or gas from under Lake Erie or a 3
state park. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1.
That section 1505.07 be amended and section 51509.023 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
set forth in division (B) of this section and in section 1505.08
of the Revised Code, the director of natural resources, with the
approval of the director of environmental protection, the
attorney general, and the governor, may issue permits and make
leases to parties making application for permission to take and
remove sand, gravel, stone, and other minerals or substances
from and under the bed of Lake Erie, either upon a royalty or
rental basis, as he the director of natural resources determines
to be best for the state. Permits shall be issued for terms of
not less than one year nor more than ten years, and leases shall
be for a term of years or until the economic extraction of the
mineral or other substance covered thereby has been completed.
Such taking and removal shall be within certain fixed boundaries that do not conflict with the rights of littoral owners. Upon request from the holder of a permit, it shall be canceled, but in the case of any permit or lease, any equipment or buildings owned by the permittee or lessee shall be held as security by the director of natural resources for payment of all rentals or royalties due the state at the time of cancellation.
(B) Notwithstanding any section of the Revised Code to the contrary, the director of natural resources or any other state authority shall not issue any permit or make any lease to take or remove oil or natural gas from and under the bed of Lake Erie.
(C) No person shall remove sand, gravel, stone, or other minerals or substances from and under the bed of Lake Erie without first obtaining a permit or lease therefor from the director.
(D) The director of natural resources may, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, adopt, amend, and rescind rules for the administration, implementation, and enforcement of this section.
Section 2.
That existing section 1505.07 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.