W.Va. DEP Behind Schedule on Gas Drilling Reports
Washington PA Observer Reporter
30 January 2013
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The Department of Environmental
Protection is late producing a report on the gas industry’s use of
wastewater impoundments because it wants to remove recommendations
from West Virginia University researchers.
Secretary Randy Huffman tells the Charleston Gazette he hopes to
have a final report ready when legislators convene next month.
He says the researchers went beyond the scope of their mission in
making suggestions about the handling of wastewater.
Huffman says there’s nothing wrong with their recommendations, but
that’s not what was requested.
He also says the study had formatting problems.
It was one of three that lawmakers mandated in 2011 when passing
new drilling regulations.
Huffman says a second one on noise, light and dust from drilling
sites is nowhere near complete.
A third report is due in July.