SB424 HFIN AMT 3-10                                         McO

    Eng. Com. Sub. for Com. Sub. for S. B. 424 –- “A Bill to repeal §22C-7-1, §22C-7-2 and §22C-7-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §22-6-1, §22-6-1, §22-6-8, §22-6-9 and §22-6-36 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §22-6A-1, §22-6A-2, §22-6A-3, §22-6A-4, §22-6A-5, §22-6A-6, §22-6A-7, §22-6A-8, §22-6A-9, §22-6A-10, §22-6A-11,§22-6A-12, §22-6A-13, §22-6A-14, §22-6A-15 and §22-6A-16; and to amend and reenact §22-7-3 of said code, all relating to the regulation of oil and gas wells; repealing provisions of the code relating to oil and gas inspectors and the oil and gas inspectors’ examining board; providing definitions; requiring disclosure of binding contract; providing additional notice requirements to surface owners; requiring operators to take certain actions to assist surface owners; revising procedure for providing notice to owners of lessees of coal seams; establishing new regulatory scheme for horizontal shallow wells; providing applicability, purpose and findings for horizontal shallow wells regulation; defining terms; requiring compliance with other programs; requiring certification from division of highways; establishing well location restrictions and exceptions thereto; providing agency inspection requirements; authorizing predrilling water well inspections; establishing hydraulic fracturing fluids monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements; providing requirements associated with pits and impoundments; establishing a water management plan; establishing requirements relating to water withdrawals; providing limitations on local ordinances; prohibiting construction on property of certain surface owners without authorization; providing special requirements and authorizing special rulemaking by the secretary of the department of environmental protection to address special concerns regarding karst geologic formations; establishing a drug-free workplace policy be established for operators, contractors and subcontractors undertaking activities associated with drill horizontal shallow wells; requiring reports by the secretary to the Legislature, and authorization entering into agreements related thereto; authorizing legislative rulemaking upon certain findings; establishing permit application rulemaking authority; requiring reports to the Legislature; and expanding timber compensation requirements for lost timber removed during oil and gas well activities.”