Marcellus bill advances

The latest update from West Virginia Surface Owners Rights Organization:

On Monday night, the Marcellus Shale legislation cleared its first hurdle, when a House Judiciary subcommittee voted to report the bill to the full committee for further consideration.

We had assumed that the bill would need forced pooling in order to overcome industry opposition, and that could still be the case. However, the subcommittee unanimously voted to remove the pooling provisions. They then went on to adopt a series of amendments that strengthened the bill, which is a combination of HB 2878 and HB 3042, and address problems with both Marcellus Shale and other (conventional) gas well drilling. There are several other amendments pending, and indications are that most of these are also intended to strengthen the bill.

The full House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow, Wednesday, February 23 at 1PM, and is likely to take up the bill then--although there are concerns about the industry pushing back (especially those who want pooling) and trying to kill the bill.

To keep this from happening, please contact House Judiciary Committee members now and ask them to pass a strong Marcellus Shale bill. (See contact information below.)

The clock is ticking and the bill may have to clear to the House Finance Committee too. So watch for additional updates and plan to make more contacts later in the week.

Thanks for your support!

House Judiciary Committee members:

Tim Miley (D - Harrison), ChairPhone: (304) 340-3252
E-mail: tim.miley@wvhouse.gov

Mark Hunt (D - Kanawha), Vice-ChairPhone: (304) 340-3392
E-mail: mhunt@markahunt.com

John N. Ellem (R - Wood), Minority ChairPhone: (304) 340-3394
E-mail: john.ellem@wvhouse.gov

Patrick Lane (R - Kanawha), Minority Vice-ChairPhone: (304) 340-3275
E-mail: patrick.lane@wvhouse.gov

Larry W. Barker (D - Boone)Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3149
E-mail: larry.barker@wvhouse.gov

Bonnie Brown (D - Kanawha)Phone: (304) 340-3106
E-mail: bonnie.brown@wvhouse.gov

Mike Caputo (D - Marion)Phone: (304) 340-3249
E-mail: mike.caputo@wvhouse.gov

Michael T. Ferro (D - Marshall)Phone: (304) 340-3111
E-mail: mike.ferro@wvhouse.gov

Barbara Evans Fleischauer (D - Monongalia)Phone: (304) 340-3169
E-mail: barbaraf@wvhouse.gov

John R. Frazier (D - Mercer)Phone: (304) 340-3396
E-mail: john.frazier@wvhouse.gov

Linda Longstreth (D - Marion)Phone: (304) 340-3124
E-mail: linda.longstreth@wvhouse.gov

Mike Manypenny (D - Taylor)Phone: (304) 340-3139
E-mail: mike.manypenny@wvhouse.gov

Harold Michael (D - Hardy)Phone: (304) 340-3340
E-mail: Harold@hardynet.com

Clif Moore (D - McDowell)Phone: (304) 340-3189
E-mail: clif.moore@wvhouse.gov

John Pino (D - Fayette)Phone: (304) 340-3170
E-mail: john.pino@wvhouse.gov

Meshea Poore (D - Kanawha)Phone: (304) 340-3248
E-mail: meshea.poore@wvhouse.gov

Doug Skaff Jr. (D - Kanawha)Phone: (304) 340-3362
E-mail: doug.skaff@wvhouse.gov

Danny Wells (D - Kanawha)Phone: (304) 340-3287
E-mail: danny.wells@wvhouse.gov

Troy Andes (R - Putnam)Phone: (304) 340-3121
E-mail: troy.andes@wvhouse.gov

Bill Hamilton (R - Upshur)Phone: (304) 340-3167
E-mail: bill.hamilton@wvhouse.gov

Lynwood "Woody" Ireland (R - Ritchie)Phone: (304) 340-3195
E-mail: woody.ireland@wvhouse.gov

Carol Miller (R - Cabell)Phone: (304) 340-3176
E-mail: carol.miller@wvhouse.gov

Jonathan Miller (R - Berkeley)Phone: (304) 340-3147
E-mail: jonathan@delegatejmiller.com

John Overington (R - Berkeley)Phone: (304) 340-3148
E-mail: john@overington.com

Kelli Sobonya (R - Cabell)Phone: (304) 340-3175
E-mail: kelli.sobonya@wvhouse.gov

-- Julie Archer
WV Surface Owners' Rights Organization
1500 Dixie StreetCharleston, WV 25311
(304) 346-5891; (304) 346-8981 FAX
www.wvsoro.org