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New Oil and Gas Resources Management Chief Announced
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz recently announced the selection of Eric Vendel as chief of the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management.
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“Eric Vendel’s extensive legal and administrative experience in oil and gas regulation makes him the ideal candidate for this position,” said Director Mertz. “Over the past decade, Ohio’s oil and gas program has set a strong example for other states to follow, and I’m confident the division will continue its exemplary work under Eric’s leadership.”
Vendel will oversee ODNR’s regulation of Ohio’s oil and natural gas industry for the protection of the public and the environment while ensuring the state’s abundant natural resources are managed and developed responsibly.
Eric Vendel has served as the Division of Oil and Gas Resource Management’s lead attorney since 2012 where he has drafted and reviewed oil and gas rules and regulations, Chief’s Orders, contracts, and compliance agreements, as well as advising staff on enforcement, permitting, engineering, underground injection control, emergency response, and the orphan well program.
Before coming to ODNR, Vendel served as an attorney with the Ohio Legislative Service Commission where he was the principal drafter of several oil and gas bills. Vendel holds a J.D. from Capital University Law School, a master’s degree in organic chemistry from The Ohio State University, and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wittenberg University.
The Division of Oil and Gas Resource Management’s regulatory responsibilities include oil and gas drilling, underground injection operations, oil and gas waste recycling, solution mining, gas storage operations, permitting and construction of horizontal well sites, and inspecting the drilling, restoration and plugging of all oil and gas wells.
Visit oilandgas.ohiodnr.gov to learn more about the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management.
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