Frack Check WV » senators

Five Senators Named to Select Committee on Marcellus Shale Development

Duane Nichols — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:10:15 +0000

Acting Senate President Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, has appointed five WV Senators to the Select Committee on Marcellus natural gas development, namely senators Douglas Facemire, D-Braxton, Sen. Orphy Klempa, D-Ohio, Corey Palumbo, D-Kanawha, Herb Snyder, D-Jefferson, and Karen Facemyer, R-Jackson.

Kessler’s own constituents are in Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler, Marion and Monongalia counties which are experiencing a flurry of drilling activity. Senator Klempa of adjoining Ohio county wants to make sure the Mountain State maintains its natural beauty throughout the drilling activity. “There are a lot of good players out there, but it only takes one or two bad players to make us all look bad. We have to make sure we are going to protect our air, our water and our roads.”

In speaking about the Marcellus drilling legislation, acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin recently said during a visit to Wheeling, “I will call a special session of the Legislature as soon as we can get an agreement reached.”

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection needs more gas inspector positions than the current 17. Natural gas companies drilled 58 horizontal wells in the state last year, but regulators issued permits for 433 wells in 2010. With land leasing and permitting still taking place, there is going to be even more drilling, which will call for more inspectors.

More Calls for a Moratorium on State Permits for Marcellus Wells

Duane Nichols — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:37:09 +0000

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.

WV Legislative Session Ends This Saturday, March 12th at Midnight

Duane Nichols — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 02:14:33 +0000

With a week remaining in the 2011 West Virginia Legislative Session, almost everything dealing with water is still up in the air. Will there be consideration for the public water supplies, for surface land owners, for the conservation of our watersheds, for the quality of life in West Virginia’s hills?

Regulation of Marcellus Shale drilling is still alive, but just barely. The Senate has passed and sent to the House SB 424, a greatly pared down version of the bill proposed by the WV Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Putting it on the “special calendar” can keep the issue alive until the end of the session on March 12.

What is still needed in SB 424? Horizontal wells need to be 1000 feet from occupied dwellings and water wells unless a variance is granted. Horizontal wells must be inspected during each phase of cementing, completing and altering before the company can proceed. Produced (blow-back) water must be maintained in a closed system, and recycled to the extent possible before disposal. Studies of radioactivity and air pollution must be conducted. Inspectors must be selected and trained by the WV DEP.

The Water Quality Standards Rule (47CSR2) has now been “bundled” with all the rest of the WV-DEP proposed rules and sent to the House, where restoring the 500 ppm TDS standard will be opposed by the same industry lobbyists who opposed it in the Senate.

You can help by visiting, calling or faxing your representatives in the House of Delegates.

Need for Balance Emphasized by Legislators

Nicole Good — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:20:52 +0000

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…

FrackCheckWV Site Launched

admin — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 17:46:39 +0000

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