And we thought coal would be the death of us

by: DB

Mon Mar 07, 2011 at 07:58:48 AM EST

West Virginia has been plundered and re-plundered first by the logging industry during the early 20th century, producing denuded mountains, fires, mudslides and flooding. Then came the coal industry bringing even worse devastation with acid mine drainage, mine subsidence from conventional underground mining and the ultimate destruction of entire mountain ranges and streams with mechanized Mountain Top Removal. West Virginia is now ground zero for another environmental disaster, Marcellus Shale gas extraction. If it is allowed to continue without regulation, Marcellus Shale drilling and fracking could make Almost Heaven, Wild Wonderful WV virtually uninhabitable. But this isn't about the environmental concerns that everyone should be familiar with by now. This is about the politics of the issue. Logging, coal, oil and gas extraction will not bring about the ruin of West Virginia, but our State Legislature and its inability and refusal to protect us surely will.

Economists have noted the Marcellus Shale represents the single greatest economic development opportunity in West Virgina history. The nation needs to reduce dependence on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Clean burning natural gas does both and West Virginians can benefit immensely by drilling for and producing this valuable fuel.
Unfortunately, individuals in the WV Legislature are trying to pass laws that severely restrict, if not in some cases eliminate, drilling for natural gas altogether, resulting in the prospect of jobs lost and families distraught. (Emphasis mine.)
More than 35,000 West Virginians rely on the natural gas industry for employment. Likely someone you know - perhaps a family member, a neighbor or friend - is one of those 35,000.

The fact is that the legislation is not about hurting the industry, it is about protecting the rights of every WV family who would like to have clean, safe, water and air. It is about protecting our property rights. And it is about making sure that WV taxpayers are not picking up the tab for road and bridge repair and clean up of damages, contamination and health problems that will be left by the gas industry when they are done with WV and leave to go back to their own states.

There is nothing in the legislation that will drive the gas industry out of business or out of WV or prevent any jobs from being created.  Read the legislation SB 424 and HB 2878 for yourself at: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/...

Last year a good bill was killed off by legislators who were bought and paid for by the gas industry.Tomorrow will begin the last week of WV's 2011 legislative session. We are still without any regulation of the MS extraction industry. Good legislation HB 2878 has been watered down to near worthlessness and allowed to die in the House of Delegates. A weaker Senate bill SB 424 must be amended with strong, meaningful controls and passed if we are to get any regulation at all. Time is running out.

We need calls to our legislators to encourage them to act in the best interest of WV's residents and pass strong protective regulations. The gas industry must not be given another year of free-rein. While many may say, well that doesn't affect me, it's not happening where I live, consider the fact that if you use water this affects you. Our municipal water originates in our lakes, rivers and streams. If your property is situated atop the Marcellus Shale formation, which extends throughout most of the state your property or your neighbor's property may be the next one affected, if it isn't already.

If you think you need more information on Marcellus Shale: http://www.marcellus-wv.com/

Senate President: Jeff Kessler
Phone: (304) 357-7801
jeff.kessler@wvsenate.gov

House Speaker Rick Thompson
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3210
E-mail: Speaker.Thompson@frontier.com

House Judiciary Committee:

Tim Miley, Chair: (304) 340-3252           tim.miley@wvhouse.gov
Mark Hunt, Vice Chair: (304) 340-3392        mhunt@markahunt.com
John Ellem:                 (304) 340-3394           ellem@wirefire.com
Patrick Lane:               (304) 340-3275           patricklane@wvhouse.gov
Larry Barker:               (304) 340-3149           larry.barker@wvhouse.gov
Bonnie Brown:            (304) 340-3106           bonnie.brown@wvhouse.gov
Mike Caputo:              (304) 340-3249           mike.caputo@wvhouse.gov
Michael Ferrro:            (304) 340-3111           mike.ferro@wvhouse.gov
Barbara Fleischauer:    (304) 340-3169           barbaraf@wvhouse.gov
John Frazier:                (304) 340-3396           jfrazier@mail.wvnet.edu
Linda Longstreth:       (304) 340-3124           linda.longstreth@wvhouse.gov
Mike Manypenny:       (304) 340-3139           mike.manypenny@wvhouse.gov
Harold Michael:          (304) 340-3340           harold@hardynet.com
Clif Moore:                 (304) 340-3189           clif.moore@wvhouse.gov
John Pino:                   (304) 340-3170           john.pino@wvhouse.gov
Meshea Poore:             (304) 340-3248           meshea.poore@wvhouse.gov
Doug Skaff:                (304) 340-3362           doug.skaff@wvhouse.gov
Danny Wells:              (304) 340-3287           danny.wells@wvhouse.gov
Troy Andes:                (304) 340-3121           troy.andes@wvhouse.gov
Bill Hamilton:             (304) 340-3167           bill.Hamilton@wvhouse.gov
Woody Ireland:           (304) 340-3195           woody.Ireland@wvhouse.gov
Carol Miller:                (304) 340-3176           carol.miller@wvhouse.gov
Jonathan Miller:          (304) 340-3147           jonathan@delegatejmiller.com
John Overington:        (304) 340-3148           john@overington.com
Kelli Sobonya:            (304) 340-3175           kelli.sobonya@wvhouse.gov

(If you call Senator Kessler, Delegates Fleischauer or Manypenny, be sure to thank them. They have worked hard to strengthen this legislation and get it passed.)