Lawmakers Push for Fracking Rules

January 17, 2011

House Bill 2403 was formally introduced on the House floor of the WV Legislature on January 12th.  The bill sets out requirements regarding water withdrawals and waste water disposal that are designed to protect waterways from excessive water withdrawals and to provide a system of accounting for the disposal of  waste water from hydrofracked gas [...]

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Capito received $49,900 from gas industry; opposes regulation

January 15, 2011

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) is one of the 32 congressional representatives who comprise the bipartisan Natural Gas Caucus.  Capito and her Caucus colleagues signed a Jan. 5th letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar indicating opposition to regulation of the natural gas industry being considered by the Department of the Interior.  One of [...]

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Acting Gov. Tomblin recognizes opportunity but not risks of gas drilling

January 15, 2011

Acting West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin gave his State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 12th at the Capitol. He touted the economic benefits of the natural gas industry but made no mention of the WVDEP-generated proposed legislation to regulate the industry.  Full text of the Acting Governor’s speech. Gazette story here.

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Methane leaking from shale wells in Canada

January 12, 2011

Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources reports that 19 of 31 hydrofracked wells inspected by that agency are leaking gas.  The wells that were found to have leaks belong to Talisman Energy, Gastem, Canbriam, Questerre and Canadian Forest Oil and date back to 2006.   A spokesperson for Talisman confirmed that the gas leaking is methane, [...]

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Increased well permit fees would fund hiring more WVDEP inspectors

January 12, 2011

There are two versions of hydraulic fracturing that will come before the West Virginia Legislature this session.  One originates from the WVDEP, the other from the Judiciary Committee.   Both bills call for increasing the permit fee for a horizontally fracked well substantially.  Currently the fee is approximately $600 per well.  Under the Judiciary bill, [...]

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Dimock, PA may be included in EPA study

January 10, 2011

In the news, Dimock, PA may be included in a 2-year EPA fracking study.  18 wells were contaminated with methane there.   Full story.

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Committee votes to Endorse Hydrofracking Bill

January 10, 2011

Good news from Charleston!   Today the joint interim Judiciary Subcommittee A met, and with the benefit of a quorum, conducted business.  The hydraulic fracking legislation passed and is now heading for the Legislature.

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Calls needed again to urge endorsement of WV Hydraulic Fracturing bill

January 9, 2011

Judiciary Subcommittee A is scheduled to meet on Monday, January 10th from 11AM to 1PM.  The agenda includes: Establishing a new regulatory program for gas wells utilizing horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing; and Establishing a prohibition on construction of underground injection well. Readers may recall that Judiciary Subcommittee A  met on Dec. 14th and hydraulic fracturing legislation [...]

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WV/PA Watersheds Compact meets Jan. 5 in Morgantown

December 22, 2010

The fifth meeting of the WV/PA Monongahela Area Watersheds Compact has been set for  Wednesday, January 5th from 1 to 3 pm at the Morgantown Airport Annex.  The primary theme of this meeting will be “The Push for Legislation to Limit Impacts from Marcellus Shale Gas Development”. An agenda will be distributed shortly.  Some 28 organizations have been represented [...]

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Last minute call info for Judiciary Subcommittee A

December 14, 2010

Judiciary Subcommittee A meets today at 2PM to review the draft bill on Hydofracking.   Still time to get a phone call off to a legislator.  If you haven’t called already, please call now.  The much-needed provisions of this draft legislation which, among other things, bring some protection to the safety of our drinking water, [...]

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