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Mines and Mining

F Failed

F HB1941

The Virginia Gas and Oil Act; distance limitations and permit applications; coalbed methane gas wells. Removes coalbed methane gas wells from the requirement that for approval of a permit or drilling unit, well operators and coal owners must agree upon a drilling unit or location for a new well within 2,500 linear feet of the location of an existing well, or a well for which a permit application is on file. The bill also deletes the requirement that coalbed methane gas well operators include in their permit applications a signed consent from the coal operator of each coal seam located within certain distances of a proposed well location, or coal bearing stratum, that the applicant proposes to stimulate.
Patron - Kilgore

F HB2529

Mining activity; surface effects of underground coal mining operation. Provides that the Director shall suspend ongoing underground coal mining under an impoundment of water used for public water supply purposes if he finds imminent danger to the public water supply.
Patron - Phillips

F HB2854

Virginia Gas and Oil Act; coalbed methane gas wells. Provides that a coal owner who objects to the location of a coalbed methane gas well may designate an alternate location for the well within the same drilling unit or leasehold interest of a coalbed methane gas well operator. The Virginia Gas and Oil Board shall determine the reasonableness of any objections to the alternate location raised by other affected coal owners. The bill also provides that a coal owner and a coalbed methane gas well operator may agree on the posting of a bond before the well is operated for any damage caused by the stimulation of a coal seam. If the coal owner and the well operator have a dispute regarding the stimulation of a coal seam, the dispute shall be referred to an arbitration panel consisting of a representative appointed by the coal owner, a representative of the well operator, and an arbitrator appointed by the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. The decision of the arbitration panel shall be issued within 60 days of the submission of the dispute to arbitration and the decision shall be binding on the parties. The bill contains a sunset date of July 1, 2003, and a requirement that the Department evaluate the success of the provisions of this act and report its findings to the chairmen of House Committee on Mining and Mineral Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources by December 1, 2002.
Patron - Stump

F HB2868

Virginia Gas and Oil Act; permit applications. Provides that a coal operator may require that the location of a proposed coalbed methane gas well be moved to an alternate location not greater than 800 feet from the proposed location on the same lease and within the same drilling unit. Once an alternate location has been designated by the coal owner, the coalbed methane gas well operator shall not be required to again move the well location until after a hearing has been held before the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. The bill also provides that the location of a proposed well location or drilling unit within 2,500 feet of an existing well shall be refused unless consent is obtained from affected coal owners or the Department finds that the proposed location or unit will not unreasonably interfere with the safe recovery of coal, oil, gas, or coalbed methane gas. In an application for a permit to drill a coalbed methane gas well, the coal owner's consent to stimulate shall be deemed to be granted if the applicant has obtained the consent from any coal owner or coal owners holding at least 50 percent interest in the acreage for which consent is required. The bill also clarifies that an applicant may appeal a decision made by the Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy to the Virginia Gas and Oil Board.
Patron - Bryant

F SB1153

Mining activity; surface effects of underground coal mining operation. Provides that the Director shall suspend ongoing underground coal mining under an impoundment of water used for public water supply purposes if he finds imminent danger to the public water supply.
Patron - Puckett


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