Doddridge County Commission Denies EQT Drilling Permit
WDTV TV
5 October 2012
The hearing between the Doddridge County Commission and EQT took
place at about 4:00 Friday afternoon. Immediately after the
meeting started, the commissioners went into an executive meeting.
After about an hour, the commissioners denied the EQT's
application for a floodplain permit.
The battle between Doddridge County and the EQT drilling company
started in May after a permit was give to EQT and then was later
revoked. The permit allowed them to drill 12 natural gas wells
within acres of each other on private property. EQT then filed a
lawsuit against Doddridge County when the permit was revoked after
the floodplain manager realized homes and livestock would be
endangered.
Also, FEMA got wind that the permit was granted without proper
inspection. The landowners said they were afraid FEMA wouldn't
help the county if drilling was done on a floodplain. EQT says the
floodplain manager didn't have the authority to revoke the permit.
EQT said they have already spent thousands of dollars in this
protect and waiting is just costing them more.
In July, Doddridge County ruled to let their original decision
stand, to keep the floodplain permit rather than give it back to
EQT. Later, Doddridge County then agreed to let EQT present their
information again to see if they are approved for the permit.
Over the past few months many meetings have taken place involving
EQT, The Doddridge County Commission, Doddridge County FloodPlain
Appeals Board, and the West Virginia Department of Environmental
Protection.
The commission and EQT will meet again on October 11th in court to
confirm their final decision.