SENATE
HOUSE
JOINT
BILL STATUS
STATE LAW
REPORTS
EDUCATIONAL
CONTACT
home
home
Introduced Version Senate Bill 629 History

   |  Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

Senate Bill No. 629

(By Senators Facemire, Kessler (Mr. President) and Plymale)

____________

[Introduced March 25, 2013; referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry and Mining; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary.]

____________

 

 

 

A BILL to amend and reenact §22-27-3, §22-27-4, §22-27-5, §22-27-6 and §22-27-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to limiting the liability of landowners, operators and contractors participating in water pollution abatement projects or making beneficial use of mine drainage, mine pool water and other water supplies; defining terms; establishing conditions for approval of reclamation and water pollution abatement projects; specifying limitations on liability; restricting the assumption of liability for making beneficial use of mine water; specifying exclusions of project sponsors and operators from certain determinations under environmental laws; and clarifying exceptions.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §22-27-3, §22-27-4, §22-27-5, §22-27-6 and §22-27-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 27. ENVIRONMENTAL GOOD SAMARITAN ACT.

§22-27-3. Definitions.

    As used in this article unless used in a context that clearly requires a different meaning, the term:

    (a) “Abandoned lands” means land adversely affected by mineral extraction and left or abandoned in an unreclaimed or inadequately reclaimed condition.

    (b) “Consideration” means something of value promised, given or performed in exchange for something which has the effect of making a legally enforceable contract. For the purpose of this article, the term does not include a promise to a landowner to repair damage caused by a reclamation project or water pollution abatement project when the promise is made in exchange for access to the land.

    (c) “Department” means the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.

    (d) “Eligible land and water” means land and water adversely affected by mineral extraction and left or abandoned in an unreclaimed or inadequately reclaimed condition or causing water pollution and for which no person has a continuing reclamation or water pollution abatement obligation. For purposes of water pollution abatement projects involving the use of mine drainage or mine pool water for hydraulic fracturing or other development of a gas well, industrial or other water supply or other beneficial use of the water, the term also includes, without limiting the foregoing definition, land and water adversely affected by mining and left in an unreclaimed of inadequately reclaimed condition, or left discharging water pollution for which a treatment trust fund naming the department as the beneficiary of the trust has been established.

    (e) ”Eligible landowner” means a landowner that provides access to or use of the project work area at no cost for a reclamation or water pollution abatement project who is not or will not become responsible under state or federal law to reclaim the land or address the water pollution existing or emanating from the land.

    (f) ”Eligible project sponsor” means a person that provides equipment, materials or services at no cost or at cost for a reclamation or water pollution abatement project who is not or will not become responsible under state or federal law to reclaim the land or address the water pollution existing or emanating from the land.

    (g) “Industrial or other water supply” means the supply of water for use by any lawful industrial, commercial or agricultural facility or activity or by any public water supply.”

    (g) (h) “Landowner” means a person who holds either legal or equitable interest in real property.

    (i) “Mine operator” means the permittee of an active or closed mine that treats mine drainage under a permit issued by the department.

    (h) (j) “Mineral” means any aggregate or mass of mineral matter, whether or not coherent, which is extracted by mining. This includes, but is not limited to, limestone, dolomite, sand, gravel, slate, argillite, diabase, gneiss, micaceous sandstone known as bluestone, rock, stone, earth, fill, slag, iron ore, zinc ore, vermiculite, clay and anthracite and bituminous coal.

    (k) “Other beneficial use” means any use of water for a purpose that produces any economic, environmental, ecological or other benefits, including irrigation, silvaculture, cooling water, flow maintenance and augmentation, consumptive use makeup, and any other use of water deemed to be a beneficial use under common law.

    (i) (l) “Permitted activity site” means a site permitted by the Department of Environmental Protection under the provisions of article two, three or four of this chapter.

    (j) (m) “Person” means a natural person, partnership, association, association members, corporation, an agency, instrumentality or entity of federal or state government or other legal entity recognized by law as the subject of rights and liabilities.

    (k) (n) “Project work area” means that land necessary for a person to complete a reclamation project or a water pollution abatement project.

    (l) (o) “Reclamation project” means the restoration of eligible land to productive use by regrading and revegetating the land to stable contours that blend in and complement the drainage pattern of the surrounding terrain with no highwalls, spoil piles or depressions to accumulate water, or to decrease or eliminate discharge of water pollution.

    (p) “Treated mine drainage” means water from an active or closed mine that is treated by the mine operator or water pollution abatement project operator under a permit issued by the department.

    (m) (q) “Water pollution” means the man-made or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical, biological and radiological integrity of water located in the state.

    (n) (r) “Water pollution abatement facilities” means the methods for treatment or abatement of water pollution located on or associated with eligible lands and water. These methods include, but are not limited to, a structure, system, practice, technique or method constructed, installed or followed to reduce, treat or abate water pollution. These methods also include a structure, system, practice, technique or method constructed, installed or followed to enable the use of mine drainage or mine pool water from eligible land and water for hydraulic fracturing or other development of a gas well, industrial or other water supply or other beneficial use of the water.

    (o) (s) “Water pollution abatement project” means a plan project for treatment or abatement of water pollution located on eligible lands, including, but not limited to, the practices to be followed and the installation, operation and maintenance of facilities and activities to:

    (1) Reduce, treat or abate the water pollution;

    (2) Withdraw, divert and use mine drainage or mine pool water from eligible land and water fro hydraulic fracturing or other development of a gas well, industrial or other water supply or other beneficial use of the water, with or without treatment, that may or may not be located on eligible land and water; or

    (3) Withdraw, divert and use treated mine drainage from a permitted mining activity site for the hydraulic fracturing or other development of a gas well, industrial or other water supply or other beneficial use of the water.

     (t) “Water pollution abatement project operator” means the owner or operator of a water pollution abatement project approved by the department, and a person acting as a contractor to the owner or operator of a water pollution abatement project.

§22-27-4. Eligibility and project inventory.

    (a) General rule. -- An eligible landowner or eligible project sponsor who voluntarily provides equipment, materials or services at no charge or at cost for a reclamation project or a water pollution abatement project in accordance with the provisions of this article is immune from civil liability and may raise the protections afforded by the provisions of this article in any subsequent legal proceeding which is brought to enforce environmental laws or otherwise impose liability. An eligible landowner or eligible project sponsor is only entitled to the protections and immunities provided by this article after meeting all eligibility requirements and compliance with a detailed written plan of the proposed reclamation project or water pollution abatement project which is submitted to and approved by the department. The project plan shall include the objective of the project and a description of the work to be performed to accomplish the objective and shall, additionally, identify the project location, project boundaries, project participants and all landowners.

    (b) Notice. -- The department shall give written notice by certified mail to adjacent property owners and riparian land owners located downstream of the proposed project, provide Class IV public notice of the proposed project in a newspaper of general circulation, published in the locality of the proposed project, and shall give public notice in the state register. The project sponsor may also provide public notice. Any person having an interest which may be adversely affected by the proposed project has the right to file written objections to the department within thirty days after receipt of the written notice or within thirty days after the last publication of the Class IV notice. The department shall provide to the project sponsor a copy of each written objection received during the public comment period, which shall conclude at the expiration of the applicable thirty-day period provided for in this section.

    (c) Advice. -- The department may provide advice to the landowner or to other interested persons based upon the department's knowledge and experience in performing reclamation projects and water pollution abatement projects.

    (d) Departmental review. -- The department shall review each proposed reclamation project and approve the project if the department determines the proposed project:

    (1) Will result in the appropriate reclamation and regrading of the land according to all applicable laws and regulations;

    (2) Will result in the appropriate revegetation of the site;

    (3) Is not likely to result in pollution as defined in article eleven of this chapter; and

    (4) Is likely to improve the water quality and is not likely to make the water pollution worse or reduce the volume or loading of mine water or an existing discharge of pollution of mine water pollutants or will likely have a beneficial impact on the water resources of the state.

    (e) Project inventory. -- The department shall develop and maintain a system to inventory and record each project, the project location and boundaries, each landowner and each person identified in a project plan provided to the department. The inventory shall include the results of the department's review of the proposed project and, where applicable, include the department's findings under subsection (b), section ten of this article.

    (f) Appeal. -- A person aggrieved by a department decision to approve or disapprove a reclamation project or a water pollution abatement project has the right to file an appeal with the environmental quality board under the provisions of article one, chapter twenty-two-b of this code.

§22-27-5. Landowner liability limitation and exceptions.

    (a) General rule. -- Except as specifically provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, an eligible landowner who provides access to the land, without charge or other consideration, which results in the implementation of a reclamation project or a water pollution abatement project:

    (1) Is immune from liability for any injury or damage suffered by persons working under the direct supervision of the project sponsor while such persons are within the project work area;

    (2) Is immune from liability for any injury to or damage suffered by a third party which arises out of or occurs as a result of an act or omission of the project sponsor which occurs during the implementation of the reclamation project or the water pollution abatement project;

    (3) Is immune from liability for any injury to, cost incurred by or damage suffered by a third party, including a downstream riparian landowner, which arises out of or occurs as a result of a reclamation project or a water pollution abatement project;

    (4) Is immune from liability for any pollution resulting from a reclamation project or water pollution abatement project;

    (5) Is immune from liability for the operation, maintenance or repair of the water pollution abatement facilities constructed or installed during the project unless the eligible landowner negligently damages or destroys the water pollution abatement facilities or denies access to the project sponsor who is responsible for the operation, maintenance or repair the water pollution abatement facilities.

    (b) Duty to warn. -- The eligible landowner shall warn the project sponsor of known, latent, dangerous conditions located on the project work area which are not the subject of the reclamation project or the water pollution abatement project. Nothing in this article shall limit an eligible landowner's liability which results from the eligible landowner's failure to warn of such known, latent, dangerous conditions.

    (c) Mine water for beneficial uses. –- Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, landowners, mine operators and water pollution abatement project operators that are involved in treating mine drainage or mine pool water from a permitted mining activity site or water pollution abatement project shall not be deemed to assume legal responsibility for, or to incur liability with respect to, a cost, injury or damage that arises out of or occurs in connection with the use of mine drainage, mine pool water or treated mine water in connection with the hydraulic fracturing process or other development of a gas well, industrial or other water supply or other beneficial use of the water.

    (c) (d) Exceptions to immunity. -- Nothing in this article may limit an eligible landowner's liability which results from a reclamation project or water pollution abatement project and which would otherwise exist:

    (1) For injury or damage resulting from the landowner's acts or omissions which are reckless or constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct.

    (2) Where the landowner accepts or requires consideration for allowing access to the land for the purpose of implementing a reclamation project or water pollution abatement project or to operate, maintain or repair water pollution abatement facilities constructed or installed during a water pollution abatement project.

    (3) For the landowner's unlawful activities.

    (4) For damage to adjacent landowners or downstream riparian landowners which results from a reclamation project or water pollution abatement project where written notice or public notice of the proposed project was not provided.

§22-27-6. Project sponsor liability limitation and exceptions.

    (a) General rule. -- Except as specifically provided in subsection (b) of this section, a water pollution abatement project operator or project sponsor who provides equipment, funding, materials or services at no cost to the state or at cost for a reclamation project or a water pollution abatement project or who implements any such project at no cost to the state:

    (1) Is immune from liability for any injury to or damage suffered by a person, including a downstream riparian landowner, which arises out of or occurs as a result of a reclamation project, a water pollution abatement project or the water pollution abatement facilities constructed or installed during the water pollution abatement project;

    (2) Is immune from liability for any pollution emanating from the water pollution abatement facilities constructed or installed during the water pollution abatement project unless the person affects an area that is hydrologically connected to the water pollution abatement project work area and causes increased pollution by activities which are unrelated to the implementation of a water pollution abatement project, provided that the project sponsor implements, operates, and maintains the project in accordance with the plans approved by the department;

    (3) Is immune from liability for the operation, maintenance and repair of the water pollution abatement facilities constructed or installed during the water pollution abatement project;

    (4) May not be considered to be engaging in surface or underground mining activities under the act of May 31, 1945 (P.L.1198, No.418), known as the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act , or the act of April 27, 1966 (1st Sp.Sess., P.L.31, No.1), known as The Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act, when the water pollution abatement project involves the use of mine drainage or mine pool water for hydraulic fracturing or other development of a gas well, industrial or other water supply or other beneficial use of the water;

    (5) May not be considered to be releasing a hazardous substance or contaminant, when using mine drainage, mine pool water or treated mine drainage for hydraulic fracturing or other development of a gas well, industrial or other water supply or other beneficial use of the water; and

    (6) May not be considered an owner or operator of the project site for purposes of a state law that imposes reclamation or remediation obligations on the basis of past or present ownership or operation of the site, solely by reason of a water pollution abatement project involving the use of mine drainage or mine pool water for hydraulic fracturing or other development of a gas well, industrial or other water supply or other beneficial use of the water.

    (b) Exceptions. --

    (1) Nothing in this article shall limit in any way the liability of a project sponsor which liability results from the reclamation project or the water pollution abatement project and which would otherwise exist:

    (A) For injury or damage resulting from the project sponsor’s acts or omissions which are reckless or constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct.

    (B) For the person's unlawful activities.

    (C) For damages to adjacent landowners or downstream riparian landowners which result from a reclamation project or a water pollution abatement project where written notice or public notice of the proposed project was not provided.

    (2) Nothing in this article shall limit in any way the liability of a person who the department has found to be in violation of any other provision or provisions of this chapter.

§22-27-10. Exceptions.

    (a) General rule. -- Any person who under existing law shall be or may become responsible to reclaim the land or treat or abate the water pollution or any person who for consideration or who receives some other benefit through a contract to reclaim land or treat or abate water pollution or any person who through a consent order and agreement or is ordered to perform or complete reclamation or treat or abate water pollution as well as a surety which provided a bond for the site is not eligible nor may receive the benefit of the protections and immunities available under this article.

    (b) Projects near mining or coal refuse sites. -- This article does not apply to a reclamation project or a water pollution abatement project that is located adjacent to, hydrologically connected to or in close proximity to a site permitted under articles two, three or four of this chapter unless:

    (1) The reclamation project or water pollution abatement project is submitted to the department in writing before the project is started; and

    (2) The department finds:

    (A) The reclamation project or the water pollution abatement project will not adversely affect the permittee's obligations under the permit and the applicable law;

    (B) The activities on the project work area cannot be used by the permittee to avoid the permittee's reclamation or water pollution treatment or abatement obligations; and

    (3) The department issues a written notice of its findings and the approval of the project.

    (c) Projects in lieu of civil or administrative penalties. -- This article shall not apply to a reclamation project or a water pollution abatement project that is performed in lieu of paying civil or administrative penalties.



    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to limit the liability of persons who participate in water pollution abatement projects or make beneficial use of mine drainage, mine pool water and other water supplies for projects such as hydraulic fracturing of gas wells and other industrial purposes.



    Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.  |  Terms of Use  |   Email WebmasterWebmaster   |   © 2024 West Virginia Legislature **


X

Print On Demand

Name:
Email:
Phone:

Print