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Appeals Court: Voter approval unecessary to lease drilling rights in public parks, cemeteries

Michigan Public | By Ryan Grimes
Published April 21, 2016 at 3:16 PM EDT
Under the Appeals Court's decision, companies would be allowed to drill for gas and oil underneath parks and cemeteries, as long as such a practice would not interfere with the normal surface-level operation of the properties. A rig like the one pictured here would be used to drill horizontally under the land's surface.
wikimedia user Meridithw
/
http://michrad.io/1LXrdJM
Under the Appeals Court's decision, companies would be allowed to drill for gas and oil underneath parks and cemeteries, as long as such a practice would not interfere with the normal surface-level operation of the properties. A rig like the one pictured here would be used to drill horizontally under the land's surface.
Under the Appeals Court's decision, companies would be allowed to drill for gas and oil underneath parks and cemeteries, as long as such a practice would not interfere with the normal surface-level operation of the properties. A rig like the one pictured here would be used to drill horizontally under the land's surface.
Credit wikimedia user Meridithw / http://michrad.io/1LXrdJM
/
http://michrad.io/1LXrdJM
Under the Appeals Court's decision, companies would be allowed to drill for gas and oil underneath parks and cemeteries, as long as such a practice would not interfere with the normal surface-level operation of the properties. A rig like the one pictured here would be used to drill horizontally under the land's surface.

Our conversation with Eric Freedman

The state Court of Appeals decided recently that voter approval is not needed for cities to be able to lease drilling rights under public parks and cemeteries. The Court rejected an appeal by a group calledDon't Drill The Hills.It was challenging the City of Rochester Hills' decision to lease oil and gas drilling rights in two parks and a cemetery to one company, and to allow another company to replace an aging pipeline under a park. 

We discuss the decision with Knight Center for Environmental Journalism director Eric Freedman.

GUEST

Eric Freedman is the director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and director of MSU's Capital News Service. 

Copyright 2021 Michigan Radio. To see more, visit Michigan Radio.

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Around Michigan & State Government Statesideoil & gas drillingRochester Hills
Ryan Grimes
Ryan is interning as a Production Assistant for Stateside. An Ypsilanti native, Ryan received a Music Production/Engineering certificate from Washtenaw Community College and is currently studying at Eastern Michigan University, pursuing degrees in Electronic Media and Film as well as Electrical Engineering Technology. For as long as he can remember, Ryan has loved public radio. Ryan is a big fan of podcasts, movies, longboarding, playing the drums, video games and spicy foods.
See stories by Ryan Grimes