A measure that would prevent the cleanup of oil and gas wells from falling onto state regulators sits idle in the Legislature as lawmakers take up another bill that exempts
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The West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill, House Bill 5018, that would bar community air monitoring data from being used in third-party lawsuits or by the state Department of Environmental Protection to issue penalties. HB 5018 has drawn overwhelming opposition from community and environmental advocates who call it a pro-polluter bill.
Most speakers during a public hearing in the WV House of Delegates Friday morning for a bill that would bar community air monitoring data in 3rd-party lawsuits voiced opposition to the legislation.
The West Virginia House of Delegates Energy and Manufacturing Committee approved a bill viewed as a legal shield for Diversified Energy Company, the nation s largest gas and oil well owner. The bill would loosen gas well-plugging regulation.