Nov. 1--A bill pending in Columbus would change the rules for future oil and gas wells in Ohio.

The measure introduced by Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chester Township, would give local communities more control over drilling.

In Stow, city officials are gearing up for a hearing Nov. 10 before the Ohio Department of Natural Resources over a proposed gas well on the property of the Stow Community United Church of Christ on Pilgrim Drive.

The church wants to allow Beck Energy of Ravenna to drill a well. The church says the well would provide free gas and much-needed revenue. Nearby residents fear it would hurt their property values.

And in Munroe Falls, the city has taken its fight against a proposed well by D&L Energy Inc. of Youngstown on Sonoco Products property west of state Route 91 to Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

Grendell's bill, which NEOGAP, the Northeast Ohio Gas Accountability Project, helped pen would:

--Eliminate mandatory pooling. In mandatory pooling, property owners who do not sign oil and gas well leases with a producer are brought into the "pool" of those who have, if the chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Mineral Resources Management approves.

--Require wells be at least 1,000 feet from structures, as opposed to the current 100 feet.

--Require a well be set back 2,000 feet from any source of drinking water or any large body of water.

--Require notification of property owners living within 3,000 feet of a proposed well.

--Restore local control of zoning over oil and gas issues.

--Increase financial responsibility when problems develop.

Christie Wilt, a spokeswoman for the natural resources department, said that "since [the measure] was just introduced, we're currently reviewing the bill and look forward to continuing the discussion on these concepts with the legislature and interested parties."

Grendell's bill is one of two pending in Columbus.

Sen. Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, who sponsored the 2004 oil and gas bill that some claim took away some local control over wells, is seeking to alter that measure.

Niehaus' new bill would allow a driller to apply for mandatory pooling only five times during a calendar year and would require the driller to pay a $5,000 fee per application.

Stow is subject to the church's mandatory pooling request because it owns a right of way along the street and has refused to sign an agreement with Beck Energy.

Munroe Falls in court

In Munroe Falls, D&L Energy Inc. had already been issued a permit to drill a gas well when the city got involved two years ago.