Texas-based company gets fracking rights for a Columbiana County wildlife area [Video]

This means, Encino would have the power to remove millions of gallons of water from the lake to extract oil and gas from the lake bed.

Columbiana County Commissioner Mike Halleck, said he supports and welcomes the state’s initiative. 

“It’s a supply and demand issue and the more supply that we can manufacture, the greater the benefit is to our folks.” Halleck said 

Anti-fracking groups like, Save Ohio Parks (SOP) are concerned that this will poison the water system and threaten the wildlife.

Although the oil and gas company was awarded drilling rights, they still have to file for a permit before they can start drilling.

A spokesperson for Encino has not given 21 News a timeline for when they may plan to begin drilling, but said their goal is “mitigating risk and maximizing value.”

A member of SOP said the chemicals used for fracking are known to cause health problems and drilling will put all …