Join Calls for Moratorium on Permits
Morgantown Dominion Post
29 March 2011
Guest Commentary
By Barbara Fleishauer and Mike Manypenny
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.
Stacey Haney’s story convinced us we were right to ask the state
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to stop issuing new
Marcellus drilling permits until a new law is passed.
We are pleased that the city of Lewisburg and The 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? Primarily because the
industry lost interest when both Houses 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 bipartisan 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, DKanahwa; Anthony Barill, DMonongalia;
Dale Martin, DPutnam; 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, DJefferson; Ray
Canterbury, RGreenbrier; Virginia Mahan, DSummers; Nancy Guthrie,
DKanawha; 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 in 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 race for governor is May 14 and the
election is Oct. 4. The regular election, when all of the seats for
House of Delegates and half of the Senate seats are open, is in 2012.
Barbara Fleishauer, DMonongalia,
and Mike Manypenny, D-Taylor, are members of the House of
Delegates. This commentary should be considered another point of view
and not necessarily the opinion or editorial policy of The Dominion
Post.