The Joint Standing Committee on Energy convened at 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 7th, in the House Chamber to discuss natural gas industry permits. The informational
committee meeting featured two administrators of the state energy industry, and focused on the process of applying for a permit to drill for oil and gas.
James Martin, the Director of the Office of Oil and Gas within the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, provided an in-depth look at the civilian and commercial processes of applying for a permit to drill wells in the state of West Virginia. Several components are involved in applying for a permit and being approved for a permit, including compliance with the Water Management Plan and the Well Site Safety Plan, as well as many other regulations. These ensure that potential drill locations preserve the state’s water resources and the quality of fracturing operations within the state.
The numerous steps that one has to take in order to get a permit through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection are cause for a lengthy timeframe in getting permits approved and issued. Martin cites that most of the wells that were permitted for the fiscal year of 2018 took 95-100 days to process and approve.
“A lot of this impact on our timeframe has to do with internal staffing,” Martin said.
Martin discussed the fact that the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection suffered a significant loss of specialized employees in the past year, but they have hired on enough new people to keep up with permit applications for the year 2019.
Another issue raised to Martin during the committee was the issue of orphaned wells in the state of West Virginia. There are currently 4,600 abandoned, nonfunctioning wells in the state. Delegate John R. Kelly (R-Wood) raised concern about the rate at which wells are being plugged.
Martin cited the fact that it costs about $65,000 to plug each well in the state, and for that reason, only one was plugged last year. Martin said that it’s difficult to plug wells without the assistance of federal funds, but that the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection was making a concentrated effort to plug five or six more before the next fiscal year ends.
“We’re definitely making it a goal to fill more of these wells this year, and we can do it with the staff we have now,” Martin said.
Gary Clayton, the Oil and Gas Coordinator for the West Virginia Department of Transportation, also stood before the Energy Committee to discuss how pipe-liners are permitted to drill within the state. Clayton assured the committee members that the Department of Transportation is committed to safety and a fair permit approval process.
Delegate Dave Pethtel (D-Wetzel), asked Clayton what was going to be done to address the frustrations that exist within his constituents in Wetzel County.
“Many people are frustrated with the state, they think that there is a lack of concern for secondary roads, and that driving situations are made more dangerous,” said Pethtel.
Clayton assured the committee that the state was committed to hold pipelining companies accountable for road damages, and that they would continue to be committed to ensure the safety of West Virginia citizens through a thorough permitting process.
“Safety is our primary concern here,” Clayton said.
