Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Fayette County in West Virginia Passes Ordinance Prohibiting Storage and Disposal of Oil and Gas Waste Substances

On January 12, 2016, the Fayette County Commission in West Virginia enacted an ordinance banning the storage, disposal, or use of oil and natural gas waste in Fayette County. This is the first county in West Virginia passing such ban on wastewater disposal.

According to a media report, the ordinance was enacted in response to many complaints and inquiries from Fayette County residents relating to spill and leakage incidents from oil and natural gas wastewater disposal wells in the Lochgelly area.

Another media report declared that “the ordinance gives both the county commission and individual citizens the authority to seek legal action against those who violate the law and authorizes Fayette County Circuit Court to impose fines of up to $5 million and force the offenders to re-mediate any environmental contamination or damage to public health.” 

Written by Chloe Marie - Research Fellow
01/19/2016

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