COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court has scheduledarguments in a closely-watched lawsuit
that challenges the state’sauthority to supersede local zoning laws with centralized regulation ofoil and
gas drilling.The case brought by Munroe Falls, an Akron suburb, against Beck Energy Corp. will be argued
Feb. 26.Itcenters on a Beck project that began on private property in 2011 withstate permission. In the
process, the city contends the companysidestepped 11 local laws on road use, permitting and
drilling.Bothfoes and supporters of drilling are watching the case. Its outcomecould prevent or allow cities
to enact local drilling bans, which hasimplications for the spread of hydraulic fracturing, or
fracking.Beck’s well was traditionally drilled, but Ohio’s state regulatory program oversees both well
types.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court has scheduledarguments in
a closely-watched lawsuit that challenges the state’sauthority to supersede local zoning laws with
centralized regulation ofoil and gas drilling.The case brought by Munroe Falls, an Akron suburb, against
Beck Energy Corp. will be argued Feb. 26.Itcenters on a Beck project that began on private property in 2011
withstate permission. In the process, the city contends the companysidestepped 11 local laws on road use,
permitting and drilling.Bothfoes and supporters of drilling are watching the case. Its outcomecould prevent
or allow cities to enact local drilling bans, which hasimplications for the spread of hydraulic fracturing,
or fracking.Beck’s well was traditionally drilled, but Ohio’s state regulatory program oversees both well
types.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.