West Virginia House Speaker Tim Miley wants Gov. Earl Ray
Tomblin to limit regulation on small oil and gas operators in a law responding
to a January chemical spill.
In a July 9 letter, Miley said small,
non-Marcellus Shale wells are in "survival mode" and should be exempt
from new aboveground tank inspections and registrations.
He says inspections could cost $2,000
per well annually.
Miley urged Tomblin to lessen the
impact through administrative rulemaking. He suggested an executive order to
delay the law's implementation for small wells, and a special legislative
session to change it.
Spokesman Chris Stadelman says Tomblin
doesn't think executive order should be used, but his environmental agency is
considering options.
A January tank leak contaminated
300,000 people's drinking water for days with a coal-cleaning chemical.
