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UPDATE: FORCED POOLING FOR DRILLING OUTFITS HITS MIDNIGHT HOUR IN LEGISLATURE |
| (03/16/2015) |
| UPDATE -
In a 54-43 vote Saturday, members of the House of Delegates voted to postpone consideration of House Bill 2688, which the Senate had approved and amended for forced pooling. In order for the House to resume discussion and take a vote on the measure, a motion will be required to again take up consideration. ORIGINAL STORY - The West Virginia Senate has passed a bill allowing natural gas horizontal drilling even when mineral rights owners won't agree to leases or can't be found. The proposal moved back to the House of Delegates, which has passed a different version. The so-called forced pooling bill would allow horizontal drilling from those properties when 80 percent of the surrounding mineral owners had worked out drilling agreements. Opponents say the eminent domain bill infringes on property rights, although property owners would be compensated. Proponents have called the change good for businesses for energy companies and residents. The bill has been a subject of controversy, including invoking a an old rule that limited debate on the matter. Delegate Isaac Sponaugle, D-Pendleton, called the bill unconstitutional, saying "This issue for the 82nd Legislature quite frankly speaks volumes. If you vote yes, you're saying West Virginia is for sale, everything is for sale. Even people's property rights are for sale. I cannot fathom that this Legislature would want to do that." Sen. Mike Romano, D-Harrison called the bill "A gift to the oil and gas industry. A gift on the backs of West Virginia property owners. This is a taking. The state is getting involved in forcing people to give up their property." |
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