Drilling rules OK’d by House, sent to Senate in W. Virginia

Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va.

West Virginia lawmakers are close to completing new rules and permit fees for gas drilling in the Marcellus shale.

The House of Delegates voted 92-5 Wednesday to pass an amended form of the regulatory bill introduced during this week’s special session.

The state Senate must now approve the House changes for the bill to go to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

The measure sets $10,000 permit fees for initial wells and $5,000 fees for each well added to that site. It sets minimum distances between wells and such things as houses, public water intakes and drinking wells.

It outlines when developers should provide prior notices to affected surface property owners.