AT FIELD HEARING ON STATUS OF NATURAL GAS DEVELOPMENT IN WEST VIRGINIA, ENVIRONMENTALISTS WANT LEGISLATION WHILE COMPANIES FOCUS ON ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND JOB CREATION

摘要

On 11/14/11 the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee sponsored a field hearing in Charleston, West Virginia, to examine the status of Marcellus shale gas development in that state. West Virginia faces many unique issues, according to the witnesses, including the state‘s rugged, rocky terrain; its rural areas; the prospect of gas economically replacing the state‘s declining coal industry; and tension from land owners who own surface rights, but not mineral rights. Also, despite calls from its citizens, the West Virginia State Legislature has not been able to pass comprehensive legislation that would regulate Marcellus gas development.