Drilling in Ohio Parks and Forests Delayed

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The formation of an Ohio commission responsible for developing rules for leasing park and forest mineral rights has been delayed for more than a year.  A state law designated a November 2011 deadline for Governor Kasich to appoint the five-member Oil and Gas Leasing Commission to facilitate the leasing of state-owned mineral rights to the highest bidders. The commission was to draft rules for leasing by June of 2012. The governor’s office says the delay was necessary to find good commissioners and that an announcement would be made soon. A recent analysis indicates that state-held mineral rights could fetch up to $183 million in lease-signing bonuses.