Marcellus News from WVSORO
Chesapeake CEO Insults West Virginians
On January 20, Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon was the the
featured speaker at the Independent
Oil and Gas Association's winter meeting and annual
legislative gala in Charleston. In his speech, McClendon was
critical of West Virginia's court system and a 2007
multi-million-dollar jury verdict against Chesapeake that was upheld
by the West Virginia Supreme Court. Upholding the verdict meant the
company had to pay $405 million in royalties and punitive damages to
landowners who were cheated on their royalty payments.
According to the Charleston Gazette, McClendon displayed a
PowerPoint slide that listed the reasons why Chesapeake "likes" West
Virginia. "There was a day I loved West Virginia," he said, "before
I had an encounter with your court system."
McClendon claimed that the Roane County verdict cost the company
"for something I didn't do."
And if McClendon's shot at our court system wasn't bad enough, he
went on to insult the intelligence of West Virginians and the
residents of two other states who want his company to act
responsibly.
Our reaction to McClendon's outrageous statements was similar to
that of Don Garvin, Legislative Coordinator for the WV Environmental
Council. You can read Don's response here
and more about the IOGA meeting here and here.
WVU Releases Industry Funded Study on
Marcellus Shale Development
McClendon's insults were followed by last week's release of an
industry funded study on the economic benefits of Marcellus Shale
development in West Virginia. As you would expect from an industry
funded study, there is no mention of any negative impacts on our
land, water, air, infrastructure, communities and overall quality of
life. We have not had a chance to read the full report, however it
is disappointing that a study was not done previously without
funding from the oil and gas industry. Our state government and
universities should be out in front on this issue. Instead we wait
until after things have happened and we get industry funding to do
studies. We this does not lead to the same mistakes we made with
coal where we did not reap the financial benefits and still got left
with the short and long term environmental damage.
In response to the study the Charleston Gazette ran an editorial
referencing our slide show on the "Industrialization
of Rural West Virginia," noting our (and others) concerns
about this development and stressing the need to impose
"strict controls" on the industry in order to "minimize unwanted
effects." You can read the Gazette editorial here and
more about the release of the industry study here, here and here.
The release of the report, was no doubt timed to deter legislators
from supporting a much needed overhaul of the state's oil and gas
laws.
“Hydraulic Fracturing and Horizontal
Drilling Gas Act” Introduced
Now for the good news. Last week also saw the introduction of the
"Hydraulic Fracturing and Horizontal Drilling Act" in both the House
(HB
2878) and Senate (SB
258). The bill, which was prepared by legislative staff for
an interim study committee, is one of two comprehensive bills
regulating Marcellus Shale development that will be before the
legislature this session. A second bill prepared by the WV
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has yet to be
introduced. Both bills are long and legally and technically
complex. We have posted some information on how the bills attempt
to address major areas of concern for citizens and the environment here.
Both HB 2878 and SB 258 have been referred to the Judiciary and
Finance Committees in their respective houses. On Thursday, members
of the House Judiciary and Finance Committees gathered for what is
likely to be the first of several presentations on Marcellus Shale
drilling. You can read more about the presentation and responses
from various legislators here, here
and here.
Spill Not Reported and Not Cleaned Up;
No Answers for the Surface Owners
This blog
post by Amy Mall of the Natural Resources Defense Council
(NRDC) documenting what happened to Taylor County farmers Tina and
Spencer Wooddell is just one example of why we need legislation to
regulate Marcellus Shale drilling and protect the people and
resources of the state.
Many of you have your own horror stories. Contact your
legislators and tell them about what happened to you. Tell
them what you think needs to be done to address problems related to
both Marcellus Shale and conventional drilling. Click
here
to send a quick e-mail (Please personalize your message) or here for
additional contact information.
Membership Renewal Thank You
Finally, thank you to everyone who recently renewed their WV-SORO
membership. The response to our membership renewal request has been
overwhelming. In addition to advancing the rights of surface owners
in their struggle for fair treatment and just compensation when
minerals are developed on their land, we are also supporting efforts
to protect our water resources from Marcellus Shale development.
Your continued support will enable us to work towards improving
and strengthening the proposals
currently before the legislature and to fight for their
passage.
In addition to our advocacy work, we will continue to keep you
informed through our newsletter and e-mail updates, and to add new
resources to the SORO website.
If you've been putting off renewing your membership, please do so
now so that we can continue to educate landowners about their
rights and keep up the fight for justice in West Virginia’s oil
and gas fields.
Please send your membership dues to: WV-SORO, 1500 Dixie Street,
Charleston, WV 25311
As always, feel free to contact us with any of your questions or
concerns. Thank you!
--
Julie Archer
WV Surface Owners' Rights Organization
1500 Dixie Street
Charleston, WV 25311
(304) 346-5891
(304) 346-8981 FAX
www.wvsoro.org