Tomblin
CHARLESTON – Eight days after the legislation was sent to his desk, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Thursday signed the Horizontal Well Act relating to Marcellus Shale.
"This is a milestone piece of legislation and a significant achievement in our state's history," Tomblin said. "It provides reasonable regulations to protect the environment and opens the door to new job opportunities for the citizens of our state. I again, extend my sincere appreciation to the members of the legislature for working long and hard to develop and pass this historic legislation for the future of West Virginia."
The Horizontal Well Act provides distinct permitting and regulatory rules governing the drilling of horizontal wells in West Virginia. The regulatory certainty created by passage of this legislation will allow the natural gas industry to continue to invest in West Virginia and create additional jobs for our citizens.
The act also provides the state Department of Environmental Protection with funding and regulatory authority to protect the environment and water resources. Going forward, this legislation requires operators drilling horizontal wells to provide additional advance notice to surface owners prior to commencing drilling activities.
Tomblin's office said the legislation will position West Virginia "for continued success and will require that the natural gas within our Marcellus Shale be developed in a responsible manner."
Tomblin will hold a ceremonial bill signing in the near future.
On Dec. 14, the state Senate sent the bill to Tomblin's office after the House of Delegates passed the measure by a vote of 92-5. The Senate vote was unanimous. The compromise piece of legislation was created by his office for the special session.
Then, Tomblin hailed the bill's passage.
"For all West Virginians, the legislature and I have worked together to open the door to new job opportunities and reasonable regulations for Marcellus Shale development with the passage of the Horizontal Well Act," he said. "This landmark piece of legislation provides clear rules to the natural gas industry, protects our communities, surface owners and waterways while sending a clear message: West Virginia wants jobs and we will protect our rights and our environment.
"I want to thank the members of the legislature for taking a good bill and making it better for the future of West Virginia. As we continue to create priorities and maintain focus, we will achieve success. We will move West Virginia forward."
Although the bill technically addresses horizontal wells in general, the purpose of the legislation was to address the oncoming growth of oil and gas development in the Marcellus shale in West Virginia, according to Gil White, a government affairs coordinator with Steptoe & Johnson's Charleston office.
"The bill represents a significant victory for both Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, whose compromise legislation easily passed both the House of Delegates and the Senate with only minor amendments and will become law upon his signature, and the leadership of both houses of the Legislature, which managed to pass significant legislation in this short special session," White said in a statement.
The new law provides:
* Increased permit fees to fund the regulatory efforts of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. It sets $10,000 permit fees for initial wells and $5,000 fees for each well added to a site;
* Increased well location restrictions to protect water resources and surface uses;
* A requirement that a road use agreement be in place prior to permit issuance;
* Increased notice provisions and a new compensation statute for surface owners;
* Increased enforcement authority for the state DEP, including increased potential civil penalties for violations of the law; and
* The codification of water use and wastewater handling regulations contained largely in the Governor's emergency rule.
White said there are also provisions for the state DEP to promulgate further legislative rules in the near term regarding air quality and cementing and casing issues.
The Legislature "has been wrestling with how to address the regulatory challenges presented by Marcellus shale" for three years," said White, a former 14-year elected member of the Legislature as well as a former political liaison to former Gov. Joe Manchin. "While it is clear neither industry nor environmental advocates are totally pleased with the passage of this bill, it is a substantial first step in the regulation of the Marcellus shale and provides some level of regulatory certainty needed for industry."
Tomblin said the Horizontal Well Act provides distinct permitting and regulatory rules so that the natural gas industry can develop job opportunities and invest in West Virginia. As well as providing the state DEP with sufficient funding and regulatory authority, ensuring the safety and protection of our communities, waterways and surface owner rights. Through provisions pertaining to the repair and maintenance of roads, notice of drilling activity to surface owners and reporting of water and frack fluid usage, the Act will generate responsible Marcellus Shale development throughout West Virginia.
"First, I would like to thank Governor Tomblin for his leadership in calling the special session to address this issue that provides enormous challenges and opportunities for the citizens of the state," state Senate President Jeff Kessler, D- Marshall, said. "I would also like to thank Speaker Thompson as well as Senator Doug Facemire (D-Braxton) and the members of the joint select committee for their tireless efforts and dedication in formulating a bill that became the framework for this historic piece of legislation we passed today."
House Speaker Rick Thompson, D-Wayne, agreed.
"I commend Governor Tomblin, President Kessler and all members of the Legislature for working diligently to develop significant, compromise legislation that puts in place much-needed guidelines for the development of this promising industry," he said. "I am very grateful to the joint committee members -- led by Senate Chairman Facemire and House Chairman Tim Manchin (D-Marion) -- who spent months gathering input and deliberating on how best to accomplish that goal.
"While there were many different ideas as to specifics within this complex bill, the Governor and legislators were in agreement that there was an urgent need for a regulatory framework to address the relationship between oil and gas extractors and surface owners and to provide environmental protections. I am very pleased with the resulting legislation."