Delegates Barbara Fleischauer (Monongalia County) and Mike Mannypenny (Taylor County) and 21 other Delegates have joined in calling for a moratorium on any new permits for Marcellus gas wells. Their guest editorial in the Morgantown Dominion Post says that “Everyone in our State will soon be affected in some way by Marcellus shale gas drilling.” Our roads, our land, water and air as well as the health of our family and our animals can each be impacted, as has happened to many already.

The City of Lewisburg has joined these Delegates in the call for a moratorium; and, the City of Morgantown will take up a moratorium resolution this coming Tuesday evening. The Morgantown Dominion Post supports a moratorium; and, the Beckley Register-Herald has called for a moratorium on all drilling. “It’s clear that everyone in Charleston isn’t on the same page on this ultra-important issue, so that really leaves them with no other option other than to halt everything right now and issue a moratorium on all drilling until adequate regulations and protections can be agreed upon.”

According to the guest editorial by Fleischauer and Mannypenny: “Please encourage other delegates and senators to join in our request for a new permit moratorium and ask gubernatorial candidates where they stand on a new permit moratorium and a special session. And don’t forget to vote.” The primary for a new governor is May 14^th and the election is October 4^th.

Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has reacted to the press conference today at which Delegates Mike Manypenny (D-Taylor) and Barbara Fleischauer (D-Monongalia) presented a letter signed by 19 WV delegates calling for a cessation on issuing new drilling permits.  Tomblin is opposed to any moratorium.  He reasserted his faith that the WVDEP can adequately deal with the impacts of the shale gas industry.  “The (West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection) is ready to implement emergency environmental laws — drilling laws and so forth — to address that problem,” he said “And I think it would be a mistake to do any sort of moratorium at this time.”
Full story here.

Tomblin has requested that the WVDEP receive an additional $2 million in funding in this budget cycle to hire more inspectors.  According to Pam Nixon, WVDEP Environmental Advocate, that would allow hiring 8-10 more inspectors.  Currently there are 13 inspectors and 4 unfilled positions.   In case you haven’t heard yet, the Oil and Gas Division is already responsible for oversight of 55,000 conventional gas wells in West Virginia, 6,000 or so unplugged wells, 13,ooo orphaned wells, and the 900-3000 per year permitted horizontal wells. How many wells must each inspector cover?  Do the math.

What kind of power does WVDEP have to implement new protections?  Can it require setbacks of gas wells of more than 200′ from homes, drinking water supply wells and waterways?  Can it require that pit liners be removed and hauled to toxic waste facilities rather than being buried on site which has a very good chance of leading to contamination of ground water?   Can it require accountability for disposal of wastewater so that the chances of another criminal assault to the environment and safe drinking water such as occurred in the Allan’s Waste Water Services case will be minimized?   We’ll be seeking those answers, but not with a great deal of optimism.

Wednesday at the capitol, West Virginia Delegates and Senators, as well as Beth Little from the Sierra Club, spoke of the need for regulations on the gas industry to make sure drilling is done responsibly.

The theme of the meeting was that job and revenue creation must be balanced with protecting surface owners rights, as well as the health of communities and the environment.

Read the full article here…

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