D-N-R Aims to Shrink Drilling Footprint in State Forests
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Charleston, WV - Oil and gas drillers would have to go easy in West Virginia's state forests, under new rules proposed by the state Department of Natural Resources. They're set for hearing today at the State Capitol.
The rules would limit road-building and tree-clearing to the minimum necessary, and would require more advance notice of planned drilling. The state owns the surface of the forest lands, but the mineral rights under the forests can be bought and used by commercial operators. Subsurface owners also are allowed to build roads and clear land to get at the oil and gas.
David McMahon with the Kanawha State Forest Coalition says some drillers have done serious damage to state forests, and the new rules would protect the rights of people who hunt, fish, hike and bike on those public lands.
"They would require the recognition of the state's rights as a surface owner when the oil and gas drillers come to drill. And we think the DNR did a commendable job; we pretty much support what they have in the rules."
The rules would require drillers to notify state forestry officials before drilling or doing road work, and they would allow the DNR to require that cleared land be replanted with native plant species. Some in the industry have argued that the additional requirements would raise costs of oil and gas development.
McMahon says the new rules aren't meant to stop all drilling in the state forests. However, the goal is to make sure the drilling has as little impact as possible on these public lands.
"This is the way of making sure that drillers do only what is fairly necessary in the state forests, giving due regard to surface owners' rights. We just need some way to enforce them."
The hearing is at 3:00 PM in the Senate Judiciary Committee Room, in the West Wing attached to the main Capitol building.
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