Kasich Camp Knew Of Plan To Target 'Eco-Left' As OH Promoted Fracking

"Top advisers to Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) were aware of a plan that the state's Department of Natural Resources was undertaking to target the "eco-left" as it pushed forward on efforts to promote drilling in state parks and forests, the Associated Press reports."



"In August 2012, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources drafted an outline of its communication plan for presenting its desire to allow oil and gas drilling to take place on public lands like state parks and forests to the public. The plan noted that an "initiative to proactively open state park and forest land to horizontal drilling/fracturing will be met with zealous resistance by environmental activist opponents, who are skilled propagandists" (emphasis theirs). The Columbus Dispatch reported on the communications document on Saturday.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for the governor's office acknowledged to the Associated Press that several of the governor's top advisers had met with DNR officials about the plan, as an email related to the communications plan had indicated. But state officials say the plan was not implemented."

Kate Sheppard reports for the Huffington Post February 18, 2014.

SEE ALSO:

"State Made Plan To Promote Fracking While Regulating It" (Columbus Dispatch)

"Records: Ohio Gov Aides Knew of Pro-Drilling Plan" (AP)

Source: Huffington Post, 02/19/2014