Egypt Valley, Jockey Hollow Wildlife Areas up for Oil and Gas Leases
COLUMBUS – At the regular meeting of the Ohio Oil and Gas Management Commission Monday, the board voted to allow oil and gas companies to bid later this year to lease approximately 6,500 acres of state-owned land in northwest Belmont and southwest Harrison counties.
A total of 4,727 acres in the Egypt Valley Wildlife Area will be up for lease along with 1,800 acres of the Jockey Hollow Wildlife Area. Combined, the two areas comprise 22,622 acres.
This news was initially reported by several news agencies with statewide bureaus. Information on the leases and an agenda for the Jan. 12 meeting is posted on the agency’s website.
In December 2023, the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill allowing oil and gas leases on state lands. Since that time, a large lease for Salt Fork State Park was approved, generating $58 million in revenue. Thirty percent of the revenue must go for park improvements while the remainder to support state park operations according to published reports.
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