This article originally provided by
WV Metro News
March 8, 2007
Drilling notice passes House with a roar
With a roar from Delegate Danny Wells still
ringing in their ears Wednesday, 96 delegates voted for legislation that
would require public notice prior to drilling for gas or oil in state
forests.
“While Kanawha State Forest is wild and wonderful, it is also open
for business,” Wells, D-Kanawha, said on the floor of the House of
Delegates.
The legislation (SB460) came up this legislative session after a firm
drilling for gas in Kanawha State Forest, just outside Charleston, cut
down a 60-yard-wide swath of trees for about a mile. Kanawha County
residents, who frequently use the 9,205-acre forest for recreation, were
outraged.
The bill requires the firms, which own the mineral rights under five
of the nine state forests, to give 45 days’ notice before drilling and
five days’ notice when conducting routine maintenance. It also allows
them to enter for emergency work.
“It does not require a public hearing. That was one of the
compromises, so to speak,” explained House Judiciary Chairwoman Carrie
Webster, D-Kanawha.
Wells stood up after she explained the bill and invited his
colleagues to visit the forest. “It’s a lovely place,” he said.
He then let out a loud noise, telling laughing delegates it was the
sound of a bulldozer in the forest coming toward a person.
A number of delegates let out similar calls while voting 96-2 for the
bill, with all the Kanawha County delegation in favor.
“Have all the members voted or mooed?” asked House Speaker Rick
Thompson, D-Wayne.
The bill must go back to the Senate for approval.
Delegates approved seven pieces of legislation as they worked toward
the end of the 60-day legislative session at midnight Saturday.
They held a spirited debate over a bill (SB335) that would require a
$20 fee on the transfer of real property or on the purchase of a mobile
or modular home to go to the West Virginia Affordable Housing Trust
Fund.
Lawmakers founded the nonprofit program, which works with such groups
as Habitat for Humanity, in 2001.
Webster noted the group has raised $1.5 million and the fee would
raise another $1.1 million, which the group believes will be matched by
private funding. “At this time they need our help,” she said.
“This bill is not about whether you support the West Virginia
Affordable Housing Trust Fund,” said Delegate Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan.
It could cause private donations to the group to dry up and will
drain more money from residents of his county, sending it to other areas
of the state, he said.
Delegate Walter Duke, R-Berkeley, agreed, pointing out he regularly
donates to Habitat for Humanity, both financially and physically.
“It’s not a tax,” said House Finance Chairman Harry Keith White,
D-Mingo. “But I guess in some people’s eyes a fee is a tax.”
Passed on a 63-34 vote, the bill goes to Gov. Joe Manchin for
consideration.
There will be no more tax breaks for synthetic fuel from coal
industry after June 30 if the Senate agrees.
Delegates passed legislation (SB588) ending that tax break 97-0 and
sent it back to the Senate to concur.
The House also passed:
A bill dissolving the Underground Storage Tank Insurance Fund,
urging the state Department of Environmental Protection to find funding
to replace old tanks, some that leak, still underground around the
state. The bill (SB490) passed 98-0 and was sent to the Senate to concur
in an amendment.
Legislation (SB573) creating a program to monitor doctors,
podiatrists and physician assistants who are recovering substance
abusers. It passed 97-1 and goes back to the Senate to concur.
A bill (SB615) allowing municipalities that have electric power
plants to purchase electricity from third parties. It passed 97-0 and
was sent to the Senate to concur in an amendment.
Legislation (SB708) modifying registration requirements for charity
groups. It passed 98-0 and was sent to Manchin for consideration.
To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.
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