SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 62

(By Senators Kessler (Acting President), Unger, Browning, Foster, Stollings, McCabe, Yost and Klempa)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to authorize the Joint Interim Committee on Economic Development to study efficient mineral development by cotenancy and unitization.

    Whereas, West Virginia has been blessed with ample supplies of natural resources; and

    Whereas, The production of natural resources has been a foundation of the state's economy, domestic energy and National Security and is the largest contributor to West Virginia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP); and

    Whereas, The efficient and safe production of natural resources makes West Virginia an integral supplier of the most commonly used fuel sources in electric generation and home and industrial heating in the US; and

    Whereas, The state's natural resource industries employ thousands of state residents, pay hundreds of millions of dollars in wages and state business taxes; and

    Whereas, Recent shale gas discovery and development has resulted in significant economic opportunity for West Virginia; and

    Whereas, The efficient production of natural resources is critical to maintain West Virginia's role as a major supplier of this nation's energy needs; and

    Whereas, West Virginia is one of only three states that requires the consent of all partial mineral interests before natural resource production can commence; and

    Whereas, This limited legal principal creates a deleterious effect on the rights of majority mineral owners in West Virginia and results in the inefficient development and waste of West Virginia's natural resources; and

    Whereas, The West Virginia Legislature finds that efficient and equitable mineral development is a cornerstone of the state's economy; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance authorize the Joint Interim Committee on Economic Development to study efficient mineral development by cotenancy and unitization; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Interim Committee on Economic Development report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance prior to the first day of the regular session, 2012, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation 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.