The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection wants public comment on its emergency rule for developing the state's Marcellus Shale resources, the DEP said late Thursday afternoon.
The rule, filed Monday with the state Secretary of State, applies to all applications for well work permits involving well sites that will disturb three acres or more of surface. The applications must include a well-site safety plan to spell out what steps will be taken to protect people on site, as well as the general public and the environment. The safety plan must be developed in accordance with standards developed by the DEP's Office of Oil and Gas.
The rule also includes operational rules intended to protect water quantity and quality, and instructs operators to construct wells and conduct casing and cementing activities for all horizontal wells, in accordance with OOG standards.
Public comment on the standards will be accepted through September 30, 2011 and can be mailed to the OOG at 601 57th St., S.E., Charleston, West Virginia, 25304 or emailed to DEP.comments@wv.gov. Copies of the rule can be viewed by clicking on the OOG section at www.dep.wv.gov.
