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Introduced Version House Bill 2255 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 2255


          (By Delegates Manypenny, Fleischauer,
Swartzmiller, Boggs and Canterbury)


          [Introduced February 13, 2013; referred to the
          Committee on the Judiciary.]


A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §22-6A-6a, relating to studying injection induced seismic activity associated with horizontal well drilling and waste injection sites; development of guidelines for monitoring seismic activity; and rulemaking.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
     That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §22-6A-6a, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 6A. NATURAL GAS HORIZONTAL WELL CONTROL ACT.
§22-6A-6a.
Study of injection induced seismic activity.

_____(a) The secretary shall initiate and conduct a study with the Bureau of Public Health for the purpose of studying injection induced seismic activity related to horizontal well drilling and waste injection at sites in the State of West Virginia.
_____(b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
_____(1) "Injection induced" means seismic activity related to hydrocarbon exploration and production.
_____(2) "Hazard analysis" refers to monitoring, recording and predicting the severity and frequency of injection induced seismic activity.
_____(3) "Risk analysis" refers to calculating and predicting exposure, vulnerability and costs related to injection induced seismic activity.
_____(c) The study shall include, but not be limited to, the following components:
_____(1) A hazard analysis of injection induced seismic activity which includes quantitative estimates of the likelihood of future seismic events in regions where Marcellus well drilling and waste injection occurs; and
_____(2) A risk analysis to determine possible damage to human life, environmental stability and building structures related to injection induced seismic activity as well as all monetary costs resulting from such damages.
_____(d) The study required by this section shall commence by July 25, 2013. By July 25, 2014, the Department of Environmental Protection shall submit provisional hazard and risk analyses to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
_____(e) The hazard and risk analyses submitted to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance under subsection (d) of this section, shall be used by the Department of Environmental Protection, in conjunction with the Bureau for Public Health, to develop comprehensive risk and hazard guidelines for developing and implementing a seismic monitoring plan at all drilling and waste injection sites in the State of West Virginia.
_____(f) Following completion of tasks identified in this section, the secretary shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty- nine-a of this code for purposes of implementing the seismic monitoring plan described in subsection (e) of this section.




     NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to study
injection induced seismic activity associated with horizontal well drilling and waste injection sites, to develop guidelines for monitoring seismic activity and to promulgate rules for implementing a seismic monitoring plan.


     §
22-6A-6a is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.
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