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March 8, 2007
House OKs drilling notification bill
The House of Delegates has overwhelmingly approved a bill that would require
companies to notify the public before drilling for oil and gas in state forests.
"While Kanawha State Forest is wild and wonderful, it is also open for
business," said Del. Danny Wells, D-Kanawha.
The legislation emerged after a firm drilling for gas in the forest chopped
down a 60-yard-wide, mile-long swath of trees. People who 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 does not require a public hearing. That was one of the compromises, so to
speak," explained House Judiciary Chairwoman Carrie Webster, D-Kanawha.
Wells 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.
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