Well Permits to be Modified

Morgantown Dominion Post
19 May 2011

The permits for the two Marcellus wells in the Morgantown Industrial Park are expected be amended to include safeguards agreed upon by Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) and the drilling company.

MUB General Manager Tim Ball said the agreement between the utility board and Northeast Natural Energy was finalized Wednesday.

Safeguards include additional spill prevention measures, additional containment structures and appropriately disposing of all waste products off-site.

Ball also sent a letter to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Wednesday requesting those safeguards be included in the drilling company’s permits for the Morgantown Industrial Park sites.

Morgantown City Manager Terrence Moore sent a letter to the DEP Wednesday as well — at City Council’s request — in support of the utility board’s work.

DEP Secretary Randy Huffman said in an email to Ball late Wednesday the department would be processing the changes today.