W.Va. Delegates Schedule Marcellus Drilling Hearings

Charleston Gazette
15 July 2011
By Staff reports

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Members of the House of Delegates plan three public hearings on Marcellus Shale issues over the next few weeks.

The hearings are set for Wheeling on July 21, Morgantown on July 25, and Clarksburg on July 27. The times and locations of the meetings will be announced early next week, but all will take place in the evening.

The meetings are sponsored by the House members of the Legislature's Joint Select Committee on Marcellus Shale. The new committee, made up of delegates and state senators, is working on legislation to regulate natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

Delegate Tim Manchin, a Marion County Democrat and the House chairman of the committee, said the group wants to hear suggestions on what to include in the legislation, both to encourage efficient development and address local and environmental concerns.

The committee is using Senate legislation (SB424) passed earlier this year as a framework for the new bill. Before the first hearing, a copy of that legislation and summaries prepared by a committee attorney will be posted to Legislature's website, www.legis.state.wv.us.

Other House members on the committee are Delegates Barbara Fleischauer, D-Monongalia; Tom Campbell, D-Greenbrier; Woody Ireland, R-Ritchie; and Bill Anderson, R-Wood.