A state commission that hears oil and gas complaints can’t consider drilling permits that the state gives to “fracking” companies, the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled.
The high court’s 5-2 ruling declares that the Ohio Oil and Gas Commission lacked the authority to consider a Columbiana County cattle farm’s challenge of a drilling permit that state officials had awarded to Chesapeake Energy.
The decision also helps end a months-long legal dispute between the five-member commission, oil and gas companies and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. State lawmakers got involved, too, passing a law in September that declared drilling permits off-limits.