Public Weighs In on Marcellus at W.Va. Legislature
Charleston Gazette
17 February 2011
By The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Concerned residents repeatedly warned
delegates about environmental damage from drilling into the Marcellus
shale natural gas field during a public hearing Thursday, while
supporters urged them to consider the jobs and other economic benefits
at stake.
Many of the more the 50 people who signed up to speak at a House
Chamber public hearing raised concerns about contaminated drinking
water, erosion and ruined roads. Lawmakers were also urged to impose
strong rules governing where operators drill, how they truck in need
gear and supplies, and what they do with the large volumes of water
involved in the process.
"This is a historic moment in our state," said Brynn Kusic, who
described herself as a West Virginia native and young mother.
"The delegates in this room are in a position to create legislation to
protect our future generations."
The rights of surface and mineral owners, who would lease or sell their
property to operators, was also a topic. Speakers offered differing
views on forced pooling, which would require holdout owners to grant
access to their property but be compensated as well.
The Marcellus field is a vast rock formation buried a mile beneath West
Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and portions of Ohio, Maryland and
Virginia. It is believed to hold trillions of cubic feet of trapped
natural gas.
But with the enormous potential yield and accompanying profits come
with up-front costs. Operators employ an unconventional horizontal
drilling method. They must then pump in high volumes of water,
chemicals and sand to crack open the rock and release the gas.
Whether that hydraulic fracturing process threatens water supplies
became a topic of debate during the 75-minute hearing.
Challenging such allegations, industry supporters also cited the jobs
and tax revenues that accompany drilling and well operations.
Scott Rotruck, an executive with Chesapeake Energy, said he welcomes a
well-funded and staffed regulatory system. Besides direct jobs, Rotruck
cited potential uses for what's left over from refining the gas. Acting
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin named Rotruck this week to a task force aimed at
attracting employers who convert the liquid byproduct ethane into the
widely used compound ethylene.
"The Marcellus shale presents a tremendous economic development
opportunity," Rotruck said. "(It) can lead to a whole lot of downstream
opportunities."
Steve Conlon of Wetzel County asked lawmakers who question the need for
new rules to consider why so many rural resident would travel hours to
Charleston to weigh in on this subject. A small agribusiness owner,
Conlon says he also leases gas rights and believes the drilling can be
done right.
"You're two or three years behind," Conlon said. "The gas guys in the
gas fields need to be watched."
Besides industry groups, the West Virginia Farm Bureau touted the
economic benefits of Marcellus drilling during Thursday's hearing but
expressed concerns over forced pooling. The state's League of Women
Voters and Council of Churches joined environmental groups in urging
tough rules and oversight.
A recent industry-funded study counted more than 2,800 state permits
issued for Marcellus wells, and found that drilling is under way in 45
of the 55 counties.
The House Judiciary Committee has been studying a wide-ranging
regulatory bill through a subcommittee, and expects to act on a measure
next week. Its Senate counterpart also began reviewing legislative
proposals Thursday.