The Ohio Oil and Gas Association, API Ohio, Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund, and the Nature Conservancy of Ohio, appreciate the opportunity to express our collective concern about the Ohio Oil and Gas Well Fund transfer provisions included in House Bill 33, the state operating budget.

I am writing to inform you that the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund is in support of the rail safety amendments proposed to House Bill 23 (HB 23), the transportation budget bill. We urge that all of these amendments be included in the final version of HB 23 to ensure the maximum amount of safety for Ohioans as a tremendous amount of cargo moves through our state by railroad.