Action Alert
| Marcellus Shale Sign On StatementEmbargoed Until 2 PM, Monday, August 22, 2011 We the undersigned unanimously agree that the Executive Order issued by acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin is inadequate and leaves communities vulnerable, while continuing to let the gas industry run roughshod over West Virginia.The Senate should not be using the Executive Order as an excuse for stalling. Instead, the Senate should impose a moratorium on permits until a comprehensive bill becomes effective.
Many people, including Senate members of the Select Committee on Marcellus Shale, are under the illusion that the Executive Order and the resulting emergency rules are adequate enough to ensure safe, responsible development of the Marcellus Shale. However, a number of important issues remain unaddressed.
Other items missing from the Executive Order include:
Additionally, regulations are only as good as their enforcement and with only 15 inspectors for 59,000 active gas wells, we remain concerned about the DEP’s ability to adequately protect citizens and the environment from the threats Marcellus development poses to human health and our land, air and water. Unfortunately, the emergency rules filed as a result of the Executive Order will not raise permit fees and will not provide money for more inspectors to enforce even those emergency rules. DEP has already permitted 1,602 Marcellus wells in West Virginia. Of those, 942 of those are completed and producing and the agency is on track to issue another 400 permits this year. We believe it is irresponsible for the acting Governor and the Legislature to allow the DEP to continue to issue new permits without having a comprehensive regulatory structure in place and without having enough inspectors on staff to ensure adequate enforcement. We appreciate that acting Governor Tomblin has recognized that there are problems, but the Executive Order does not go far enough. It remains imperative for the Legislature to act. Until that time there should be a moratorium on new permits. In conclusion, acting Governor Tomblin’s Executive Order and the resulting emergency rules should not be construed as a solution to the many problems related to Marcellus Shale and other gas well drilling. Far from it. The Select Committee assigned to craft meaningful legislation, especially the Senators, need to step up to address these problems, and they must do so quickly — next year is unacceptable. Although the draft legislation the committee is using as a starting point is also deficient in terms of addressing several issues of concern, a number of strengthening amendments were offered and adopted when the committee met earlier this month. We want to see the committee reconvene to continue its work and make the needed improvements to the bill. Signatories: Greenbrier River Watershed Association Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition Sierra Club West Virginia Chapter West Virginia Citizens Action Group West Virginia Highlands Conservancy West Virginia Surface Owners Rights Organization SavetheWaterTable.org |
“Oil and Gas Emergency Rule – WV” filed August 22, 2011 pursuant to Governor Tomblin’s Executive Order of July 12, 2011. |
Ask Governor Tomblin to Regulate Gas Drilling or Stop Issuing New Drilling Permits!After 60 days, legislators failed to pass legislation to regulate Marcellus Shale drilling. It’s time to call on Acting Governor Tomblin to stop issuing new drilling permits until the industry is properly regulated. We do not believe that the DEP should be issuing more new permits than it can review, inspect and enforce. Our drilling laws have not been updated in nearly 40 years. There are only 17 inspectors for 59,000 active gas wells. Also there are 6,000 inactive conventional wells out there now that need to be plugged before the well owners go out of business. We have had at least three major well fires and explosions in the past 18 months. The current system isn’t working! We need a special session to address environmental and other concerns related to Marcellus Shale and other gas well drilling.
Please call, e-mail or write Governor Tomblin and send a copy to Acting Senate President Kessler and House Speaker Thompson saying: Dear Governor Tomblin: I am disappointed that the Legislature was unable to reach any agreement on legislation to regulate Marcellus Shale gas drilling. It is important that you stop issuing new permits until regulations are in place to protect property owners and the environment and to ensure proper enforcement and inspector staffing. It is unacceptable that West Virginians were not heard during the 2011 Legislative Session asking for protection from destructive gas drilling that is happening all over the state. Please call a special session to address environmental and other concerns related to Marcellus Shale and other gas well drilling. You can contact Governor Tomblin at: Phone: (304) 558-2000 or You can contact Senate President Kessler at: Phone: (304) 357-7801 You can contact House Speaker Rick Thompson at: Phone: (304) 340-3210 |
Help Move the Marcellus Bill To a VoteThe West Virginia Environmental Council has issued an Action Alert to help move Marcellus Fracking Regulation to a vote in the West Virginia Legislature. The measure is in danger of stalling. Click here to efficiently add your voice to the call for sensible regulation. |
WV Environmental Council Action Alert- March 3, 2011Marcellus Shale Gas Regulation – SB 424 URGENT – Please call or e-mail your representatives in the House of Delegates ASAP. This is our last chance to pass a bill this session to regulate drilling in the Marcellus Shale. It is particularly Important to contact: Find your legislators contact information at: www.legis.state.wv.us or: www.wvsoro.org/contact/legislators.html It is IMPERATIVE that our Delegates hear from you – there is a coordinated effort by some in the industry to stop the bill, saying – “Vote No” and “the future of the industry and WV’s economy are at stake.” We are hearing that legislators are receiving hundreds of these messages – but VERY FEW from concerned citizens in support of a strong bill regulating Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling. Please contact your Delegates and ask them to pass a strong bill that will protect West Virginia’s: Water Resources Updated Status: The House has decided to forgo further consideration of HB 2878, and is planning to take up SB 424 (Senate Version), passed by the Senate Yesterday. Contact your Delegates: www.legis.state.wv.us |
February 9, 2011- Marcellus Day at the CapitolA plea from Beth Little, a special friend of the Watershed This may not be the first, or the last, message you will get about Marcellus shale gas drilling this year, but this is my personal plea for your help, and if you have any questions, please just ask. Momentum is building. Marcellus shale gas drilling is THE issue at the legislature this year. That means industry lobbyists are scrambling to convince our representatives that the protections we are asking for are unreasonable and unneeded. If you think that’s true, just check out this recent story: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/amall/west_virginia_a_spill_not_repo.html Some of you have already been helping. There have been lots of calls and messages to legislators, but the greatest impact is when people actually come down and meet their representatives and tell them face-to-face that they want better protection. E-Day is coming on Wednesday, Feb 9. We have established Wednesdays as Marcellus day at the capitol, but this one is prime. There is also a WV Environmental Council banquet and awards ceremony with good food and music at the Women’s Club that evening if you can stay in town. I understand that people have jobs and other demands on their lives, and most of the people in my community live hours away from Charleston, but if there’s any way you can make it, you will be worth 50 calls. And bring anyone else you can find. Beth |
Algae Concerns? Important Meeting Monday at CapitolThe Senate Natural Resources Committee will take up the water quality rules, SB 122, on Monday, February 7. This is where they will make the standards for phosphorus lower to help fix the algae problem in the Greenbrier River. Senator Wills, who represents Greenbrier County, is on that committee, as are Senators Helmick and Barnes. They need to hear from folks in their district, and it would be good if we can get some people here for the meeting. I assume it will be at 1:00, but we could use some help lobbying from 9 a.m. on. All committee members need to get emails or calls, also, to let them know this is a real problem for recreation on the river. If you are able to come to the Capitol, please email lesleemac1@frontier.com or call Leslee McCarty at 304 646-7563 William R. Laird IV — Chair (D – Fayette) District 11 E-mail: william.laird@wvsenate.gov Clark S. Barnes (R – Randolph) District 15 Robert D. Beach (D – Monongalia) District 13 Donna J. Boley (R – Pleasants) District 3 Larry J. Edgell (D – Wetzel) District 2 Douglas E. Facemire (D – Braxton) District 12 Karen L. Facemyer (R – Jackson) District 4 Mike Green (D – Raleigh) District 9 Walt Helmick (D – Pocahontas) District 15 Roman Prezioso (D – Marion) District 13 Bob Williams (D – Taylor) District 14 Mark Wills (D – Mercer) District 10 |
Take Action Now, “Don’t Weaken Water Quality Standards”WVEC Action Alert CONTACT LEGISLATORS TODAY!! Tell Lawmakers “Don’t Weaken the Water Quality Standards Rule” The Water Quality Standards Rule (47CSR2) was passed out of the Interim Joint Legislative Rule-making Review Committee and introduced in both chambers. The Senate version is SB 122 and it has been double referenced first to Senate Natural Resources Committee, and then to Senate Judiciary. The Natural Resources Committee may consider the bill as early as this week. A variety of industry groups are strongly opposed to the new standard for “total dissolved solids” proposed in this rule. So it is important that we ask members of the committee NOT TO WEAKEN the proposed standard. Some Background: As part of the Triennial Review Process the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has proposed changes to the state Water Quality Standards Rule (47CSR2) for consideration by the Legislature in 2011. The proposed changes were passed by the Interim Rule-Making Review Committee, and are now under consideration by the full Legislature. For the first time, DEP is proposing a statewide water quality standard for “Total Dissolved Solids” (TDS). Dissolved solids are primarily various salts — such as chlorides and sulfates – that are dissolved in water and are normally present in most streams. However, at high enough levels, these pollutants can be dangerous to human health and aquatic life and can make water used in drinking supplies taste and smell bad. High levels of TDS can come from a variety of sources, including coal-mining discharges and oil and gas well brine. DEP is proposing a statewide water quality standard for total dissolved solids of 500 mg/l measured in-stream. This is stronger than Pennsylvania’s standard of 500mg/l which is measured only at public water supply in-takes. However, it is twice as high as the 250mg/l that EPA recommends as the Human Health Standard for total dissolved solids. While WVEC believes the state should adopt the stronger EPA standard, it absolutely should not adopt a weaker standard than is proposed in this rule. Please call or email the members of the Senate Natural Resources Committee and urge them not to weaken DEP’s proposed changes to the Water Quality Standards Rule (47CSR2). Legislators need to hear that their constituents want clean water. Below is a list of Senate Natural Resources Committee members and their contact information. You can also contact (and leave messages for) members using the Toll Free phone number: Thanks for your help. Senate Natural Resources Committee Members: William R. Laird IV — Chair (D – Fayette) District 11 John Pat Fanning – Vice Chair (D – McDowell) District 6 Clark S. Barnes (R – Randolph) District 15 Robert D. Beach (D – Monongalia) District 13 Donna J. Boley (R – Pleasants) District 3 Larry J. Edgell (D – Wetzel) District 2 Douglas E. Facemire (D – Braxton) District 12 Karen L. Facemyer (R – Jackson) District 4 Mike Green (D – Raleigh) District 9 Walt Helmick (D – Pocahontas) District 15 Roman Prezioso (D – Marion) District 13 Bob Williams (D – Taylor) District 14 Mark Wills (D – Mercer) District 10 |
Urge Lawmakers to Pass Marcellus Shale Drilling Bill Out of Subcommittee |
When you come, we will make it as easy as we can, providing directions to your representative’s office and materials to leave with him/her, plus talking points and the latest information on bill status. If it’s your first time, we will even hold your hand. For E-Day we will have coffee and donuts too. Our “mobilization central” will be located on the second floor in the Senate hallway. Just ask for directions at the information desk near the entrance in the rotunda.