The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Today's Front Page

November 11, 2011

Panel moves Marcellus shale meeting to Monday

By Mannix Porterfield Register-Herald Reporter

CHARLESTON — If you planned on tracking the Marcellus shale regulatory bill Sunday morning by sitting in on a select committee at the Capitol, better change your travel plans.

Once set for 9:30 a.m., that meeting has been moved back to Monday, the original day, but you need to get started a bit earlier than normal.

It is set to start at 8 a.m, instead of the original 9 a.m. meeting time.

“Because some concerns were raised about our Sunday meeting potentially interfering with inaugural activities, we have canceled it,” Delegate Tim Manchin, a co-chairman of the panel, said in a statement Thursday.

Gov.-elect Earl Ray Tomblin will take his oath of office at 3 p.m. on the south side of the Capitol, about three hours after lawmakers return to officially certify results of the special, court-ordered election.

Tomblin won the right to complete the unexpired term of former Gov. Joe Manchin, now a U.S. senator, by defeating Republican nominee Bill Maloney.

“To help make up some time, we will start our previously scheduled Monday morning meeting an hour earlier,” Delegate Manchin said of the Marcellus shale panel.

After the House and Senate couldn’t agree on legislation imposing regulations on the fledgling industry, Speaker Rick Thompson, D-Wayne, and Jeffrey Kesser, D-Marshall, appointed a 10-member committee to work up a bill, with an eye toward getting one approved in a special session.

Tomblin has said he would set up a special session for just that purpose, provided lawmakers can achieve consensus on a bill.

The panel has met in monthly interims meetings and still must come to terms on four remaining amendments when it convenes next week.

Requirements for drilling inspectors and regulations that involve gas operations near caves and caverns are two amendments considered non-controversial.

But the panel could find itself involved in some lengthy talks about two other amendments — one involving surface owners agreements with the holders of mineral rights, and the permitting requirements.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com

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