Petrochemical Industry Looks to Expand in Appalachia by Liz Partsch For years, Southeast Ohio has been a hub for fossil fuel jobs that the industry claims employ millions. With the rise of coal mining in the 19th century and the fracking boom of the 2000s, the industry presents its latest push: plastic production. Now, petrochemicals have their sights on a new destination in Appalachia: Belmont County, located in southeastern Ohio, to accompany an existing plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. In Belmont County, a global chemical company from Bangkok, PTT Global Chemical, has proposed plans to construct an ethane cracker plant […]
Wayne National Forest to construct 88 new miles of trail
After years of planning, Wayne National Forest, which spans across 12 southeastern Ohio counties, received approval to begin the construction of 88 additional miles of biking and hiking paths. The Baileys Mountain Bike Trail System, to be located between Athens and Nelsonville, will connect to other trails along the 21 miles of the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, creating a trail network over 136 miles long. Planning for the Baileys Trail expansion began in 1994, but Wayne National Forest received the green-light to begin planning and fundraising in December 2017. Trail construction has not started yet, but Wayne National Forest Public Affairs Officer Gary Chancey says the community is already […]