PHILIPPI -
The West Virginia Horizontal Well Act was put into law in mid December.
Barbour County residents showed up Thursday at the court house for an overview of the new law that was presented by the Chamber of Commerce and Mullens & Mullens Law Firm to learn how that law will affect them.
"An act to regulate to some extent the Marcellus Shale and the permitting process of Marcellus Shale," said Hunter Mullens, of Mullens $ Mullens Law Firm.
The Act was put into action on Dec. 14 last year.
Mullens said people need to understand that law and their rights.
"People just like gas companies understand what they're doing," Mullens said. "The regular owners of valuable mineral interest and the surface of property or land..they need to understand their rights. From the farmer to the gas company, everyone needs to understand their rights."
Woodrow Flint was there to learn more about his rights as a mineral and property owner.
"The laws have changed since then, since the legislation got involved and I want to find out exactly what's going on with the new laws," Flint said.
Flint hasn't been contacted by a drilling company yet but he says he could be.
He said he wants to make sure he makes the right decision for himself and others.
"The money is not the only important thing. Although it would be a big influx in the county due to the county being as poor as this county is. But it would also bring jobs in. That's a good thing but at what cost?" Flint said.
Randall McCualey is also a property and mineral owner.
But he has been contacted and has leased his land.
"Leased my property and it was before the legislation," McCualey said.
Work has started on his property but it isn't completely finished.
"I'm curious. We all have a right to know and I'm still learning, we want to know the pros and cons of industries," McCualey said.
More information can be found at these websites:
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Office of Oil and Gas
WV DEP Horizontal Drilling Permit Page
West Virginia Surface Owners' Rights Organization
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