Fracking Heads to Wayne National Forest | Columbus News

The federal government is moving forward with plans to open 2,800 acres of the Wayne National Forest in Ohio — the state’s only national forest — to oil and gas drilling, potentially bringing fracking to the area for the first time. A lease sale for 41 parcels, totaling 2,840 acres near Marietta, Ohio, and Parkersburg, West Virginia, is set for September 15, following years of advocacy and the current administration’s push to expand energy development on public lands. While environmental groups warn of harm to wildlife like the endangered Indiana bat and increased noise and traffic, the Ohio Oil and Gas Association argues the process is transparent and could benefit local landowners. Public comments are open until August 17, 2026, as legal challenges continue. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/dc01052678647966