Delagate Hopes For Special Legislative Session

{West Virginia}...Delagate Tim Manchin, D-Marion, co-chair of the legislative committee working on new regulations for Marcellus shale natural gas drilling says there's a chance there could be a special legislative session to consider the bill in December. Manchin and other members of the committee worked on the bill for several hours this week at the state capitol. The panel passed amendments dealing with things like raising the permit fee for drilling and the distance Marcellus wells have to be away from houses. Manchin says there's more work to do but if broad-based agreement can be reached within the next month, there may be a special session the following month. All of the upfront work being done by the legislative panel is hoped to make it an easier process to get the bill through the House and Senate, but Manchin says a lot of that is up to the oil and gas industry. The committee plans to meet again on October 22nd.