LEWISBURG — State regulations pertaining to the development of the Marcellus shale gas reserves are inadequate, according to a resolution that Lewisburg City Council voted Tuesday evening to send to legislators and the acting governor.

In the resolution, city officials expressed their concerns about the lack of protection afforded the state’s water resources, particularly the Greenbrier River watershed, which is the source of water for Lewisburg’s regional system, serving 4,732 customers.

“State regulations do not adequately regulate the amount of water that can be withdrawn from aquifers and public bodies of water by Marcellus shale development companies in West Virginia,” the resolution reads.

Reference is also made to “contamination from liquid byproducts of hydraulic fracking technologies being released into public bodies of water.”

The resolution points to a lack of funding for adequate numbers of inspectors at the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to monitor the Marcellus developers. 

“Its not (DEP’s) fault,” Mayor John Manchester said, noting that regulatory legislation proposed but not acted upon this year would have increased permit fees, thereby providing a revenue source for hiring more inspectors.

The mayor said DEP currently employs only 19 inspectors, but the state has issued more than 50,000 gas drilling permits.

The resolution calls for the governor to call a special session of the legislature to address the regulatory issue in a timely fashion and to declare a moratorium on horizontal drilling permits in the Marcellus shale until adequate regulations protecting water supplies are in place.

Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has shown no inclination to convene a special session on the Marcellus issue, instead calling on legislators to find more money in the budget to hire additional DEP inspectors and instructing DEP Secretary Randy Huffman to formulate new regulations within the department.

In a related matter, council approved the second and final reading of an ordinance prohibiting “locating, drilling, equipping or producing of any oil and gas” in any district within the city limits.

In other business:

 Council adopted a general fund budget of $4.37 million for fiscal year 2011-12, as well as a $15,000 coal severance budget.

 The coal severance revenue is once again being allocated to parks projects and, upon the mayor’s request, $8,000 from contingency funds will be set aside “to allow for projects as they may show themselves” to tout Lewisburg’s recent selection as America’s Coolest Small Town in a Budget Travel magazine contest.

 Public Works director Mark Carver predicted the Route 219 North sidewalk project will begin in late April or early May.  When complete, the sidewalk will link the downtown business district to Wal-Mart.

Carver noted interest in recycling is increasing, leading the city to obtain containers from the Greenbrier County Recycling Center in Ronceverte for pre-sorting at the city shop.  He also reminded would-be recyclers to wash out containers before depositing them for pickup.

— E-mail: talvey@register-herald.com