HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 174

(By Delegates Manypenny, Morgan, Perdue, Sponaugle, Storch, Hartman and Lynch)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the inventory and responsible development of West Virginia’s oil and gas resources.

    Whereas, West Virginia has vast amounts of natural gas resources that lye beneath land where the state is the mineral owner; and

    Whereas, Much of these resources may lay beneath the navigable rivers of West Virginia; and

    Whereas, There has yet to be an inventory of these resources; and

    Whereas, West Virginia should consider competitively bidding the extraction of these resources; and

    Whereas, By implementing such an inventory could only benefit West Virginia citizens if open to sealed bids with a minimum reserve royalty and $3500.00 bonus; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study Inventory & Development of West Virginia’s oil and gas resources to review the amount of available resources with potential value investigating best practices for income generated; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2014, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.