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Government And School Officials In Southern Ohio Considering Land Leases

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Promises of prosperity have made government and school officials in Ohio consider land leases with oil and gas companies seeking to drill with a technique that blasts shale with chemical-laced water.
    
The city manager says Steubenville in eastern Ohio will see a one-time $590,000 payday from a $5,400-an-acre agreement with an oil company.

It also stands to receive a 19 percent royalty on gas or oil extracted from the 110-acre site involved.
    
The engineer's office in surrounding Jefferson County is determining the potential of its properties. And at Hocking College,, a committee is studying a $3 million proposal.
    
Environmental concerns over the hydraulic fracturing drilling process have some officials concerned.

In Athens, city leaders are against deals that would allow drilling in nearby Wayne National Forest.