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.