Mon Wants State Drilling Regs

Will write letter seeking special legislative session

Morgantown Dominion Post
19 May 2011
By Tracy Eddy
 
The Monongalia County Commission intends to tell the governor it’s “time to get serious” about getting regulations for Marcellus shale drilling in place, Commission President Asel Kennedy said Wednesday.

Commissioners agreed to write the governor a letter, asking for a special session of the state Legislature to create new regulations to manage the permitting and drilling of the wells.

Several residents attended the commission’s Wednesday meeting, and eight spoke out against the drilling — particularly the location of the wells and the speed at which the permits were issued and drilling started.
 
Residents were also gathering on the Courthouse Square to protest the wells while the commission meeting was happening.

Kennedy said the letter would also mention previous sessions the legislature tried to address too many items in the same bill, and commissioners think those items should be dealt with one at a time.

Commissioner Eldon Callen said the county only has the authority the state gives it, and the governor and the Legislature have to take the lead on the issue.

Catherine Lozier, from the League of Women Voters, asked the County Commission to pursue an injunction to stop the Marcellus shale drilling at the Morgantown Industrial Park on its own, or to partner with the Morgantown City Council to pursue one.

“We need to slow things down,” she said. “It’s going too fast.”

Commissioner Bill Bartolo said he didn’t know if the county had the authority to pursue an injunction, but he is not opposed to asking Phil Magro, the county’s assistant prosecutor, for an opinion.

Duane Nichols, spokesman for the Mon Valley Clean Air Coalition, said the two well sites are too close to the Skyview Elementary and Westwood Middle schools, just off River Road, as well as to the area’s water supply and the other facilities in the Morgantown Industrial Park.

“And this is just the first of more wells to come,” he said. “We’re all going to be in a state of emotional distress.”

Bartolo said he understands there’s concern for the public welfare and what sort of impact Marcellus shale drilling could have on water and air.

“It makes sense to me with that kind of impact looming over us that somebody puts the brakes on this and further investigates it,” he said.

Kennedy said he wouldn’t support a stop-work order, because the driller has followed all the current laws and was given a legal permit by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

“You’re trying to make something that was legal today, illegal tomorrow,” he said. “I just can’t support that.”

Morgantown resident Kathleen Abate encouraged the commissioners to call their contacts and discuss their concerns about the drilling.

“You’re our elected officials,” she said. “You have status and stature and I hope you can use it to protect us.”

The Morgantown Industrial Park is in an unincorporated part of the county near the intersection of River and DuPont roads.