Barbara Fleischauer and Mike Manypenny: Think Before Drilling
OP-ED:
Charleston Gazette
30 March 2011
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Everyone in our state will soon be affected in
some way by Marcellus shale gas drilling.
Stacey Haney's experiences tell what can happen if we don't get gas
regulations right.
When she leased her gas last year, the operator showed her pretty
pictures and told her everything would be fine. It wasn't.
First, local roads were destroyed. She and her family became ill and
animals started dying -- two dogs, a horse and the children's goat. She
began to suspect their water and the fumes from the nearby chemical
waste pond and compressors were poisoning them. Her son edged toward
liver failure. After testing, their blood showed high levels of toxic
chemicals including arsenic, toluene and benzene.
Haney's story convinced us we were right to ask the state Department of
Environmental Protection to stop issuing new Marcellus drilling permits
until a new law is passed. We are very pleased that the city of
Lewisburg and the Morgantown Dominion Post have joined in our request
for a moratorium on new permits.
To be absolutely clear, we are not asking for a moratorium on all gas
drilling. The Marcellus gas shale industry represents enormous
possibilities for our citizens and our state. But it must be done
responsibly.
It is physically impossible for 15 field inspectors to monitor 59,000
permitted wells -- of which more than 900 were granted for Marcellus
shale drilling in the past two years. The DEP desperately needs funding
for new inspectors, which should come from the regulated industry.
Why were we unsuccessful in passing legislation in the 2011 regular
session? Primarily because the industry lost interest when both
chambers of the Legislature refused to include "forced pooling," which
means that even if you have not leased your gas, you must participate
in the drilling if a majority of your neighbors do.
Another complication was the upcoming gubernatorial primary, with the
acting governor, acting Senate president and speaker of the House all
running for governor.
Along with the two of us, the following bi-partisan group of delegates
signed onto our letter requesting a moratorium on new Marcellus gas
well permits: Linda Longstreth, D- Marion; Larry Barker, D-Boone;
Bonnie Brown, D-Kanawha; Danny Wells, D-Kanawha; Anthony Barill,
D-Monongalia; Dale Martin, D-Putnam; Don Perdue, D-Wayne; Mary Poling,
D-Barbour; Clif Moore, D-McDowell; Harold Pete Sigler, R-Nicholas;
Margaret Staggers, D-Fayette; Joe Talbott, D-Webster; John Doyle,
D-Jefferson; Ray Canterbury, D- Greenbrier; Virginia Mahan, D-Summers;
Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha; Dan Poling, D-Wood; Barbara Hatfield,
D-Kanawha; Ruth Rowan, R-Hampshire; Rick Snuffer, R-Raleigh; and Roger
Romine, R-Tyler.
We call on our fellow leaders in the Legislature to hammer out an
agreement on Marcellus legislation. Once agreement is reached, we urge
the acting governor to call a special session after the gubernatorial
primary.
Please encourage other delegates and senators to join our request for a
new permit moratorium and ask gubernatorial candidates where they stand
on a new permit moratorium and a special session.
And don't forget to vote. The primary vote for governor is May 14, and
the election is on Oct. 4.
Fleischauer, of Monongalia County, and Manypenny, of Taylor County, are
Democratic members of the House of Delegates.