WVEC Action AlertOctober 11, 2011Contact Members of the Marcellus Select Committee Now! The West Virginia Legislature’s Select Committee on Marcellus shale drilling regulation has made some real progress. They have added several critical amendments that improve environmental protection in the bill that came out of the West Virginia Senate in March but didn’t pass the House because of time constraints. But the clock is ticking and time is running out for the committee to finish its work in order to have a Special Session and pass a bill before the next regular session begins in January next year. Several important protective amendments remain to be considered by the committee, and the general feeling is that if the committee does not finish its work during Interim committee meetings this week it will be too late for a Special Session call in November. So now is the time for the public to call ANY or ALL members of the Marcellus Select Committee. Legislators will be in (or near) their Capitol offices almost all week, beginning Tuesday, October 11, along with their staffers, who can answer the phone and take your message. The Select Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, October 12, and Thursday, October 13. So if you believe that West Virginia should have a strong bill regulating this new drilling boom in the state, it’s time to call our Legislators and tell them so. Thank them for the good work they have done so far, and urge them to adopt the remaining amendments proposed by the House members. And you can also urge them to stand firm on the drilling permit fees the committee adopted last month. The DEP needs that money to hire more inspectors and enforce the law. Here are the phone numbers of the Joint Select Committee on Marcellus Shale: Senate Members House Members Here is a list of the important amendments still under consideration by the Select Committee: Pending - Casing and Cement Requirements -- strengthening casing and cementing requirements. This is where most of the risks of groundwater contamination occur, when well casing and cementing are inadequate. Pending - Surface Owners Agreement -- protecting the landowner in case of damage from drilling operations. Pending - Well Location Restrictions -- keeping wells and well pads a safe distance (1000 feet) from water dwellings, water wells, streams, wetlands, springs, etc. Pending – Protection of Water Supplies – protecting drinking water sources. Pending – Permit Considerations – allowing DEP to add special “conditions” to a drilling permit, or to deny the permit outright. This includes protections for public lands and other “special places.” We appreciate all you do to help protect our air, water and natural resources, and hope you can find time to give the Select Committee members a call. Don Garvin
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