Currently, the Office of Oil & Gas has too few inspectors and is funded only by a $100 fee paid by an operator at the time of permit application. This bill would require that a $100 fee be paid by the operator annually on all wells that have not been plugged.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/11/23, referred to Energy & Manufacturing then to Finance

Currently, gas wells may not be located within 650 feet of an occupied dwelling structure. This bill would expand the restricted area to 2,500 feet.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/11/23, referred to Energy and Manufacturing

This bill defines and creates classes of e-bicycles and provides that they have the same privileges as non-electric bicycles where those vehicles are allowed. The stated purpose is to facilitate access to public lands for disabled people.

CWV Position:

Status: Introduced 1/11/23, referred to Natural Resources then Judiciary; passed out of Natural Resources 2/1/23; substitute bill in Judiciary passed out to House 2/14/23

This bill authorizes the use by the Commissioner of Agriculture of federal grants for the purposes defined therein, but directs that one such purpose shall be small grants to develop gardening and horticultutral habits that protect large pollinators.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/11/23, referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources then Finance.

This bill would improve the safety requirements for participants younger than 17, would enlarge the period of stream adoption to 3 years from the current 1 year, and require at least one clean-up per year.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/11/23, referred to Government Organizations

This bill defines e-bicycles, creates a new category of e-bicycles, and establishes that they may be used wherever regular bicycles are permitted.

CWV Position:

Status: Introduced 1/11/23, referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources, then Judiciary

The purpose of this bill is to reduce the adverse environmental impact of polystyrene food containers by prohibiting a food establishment from dispensing prepared food to a customer in a one-use polystyrene food service container.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: 1/11/23, to Health and Human Services then Judiciary

This bill would provide a safe process for organic waste composting and require the DEP to promulgate related rules implementing organic waste composting, and providing for curbside pickup of composting.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/11/23, referred to Health and Human Resources then Government Organization

This bill would require the Director of DNR to propose rules for the taking of antlered deer, to include a limit of two per licensee.

Sponsors: John Hott

CWV Position: It is unclear what impact, if any, this bill would have on the competing conservation interests.

Status: Introduced 1/11/23, referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources

This bill would redefine the categories of allowable e-bike, allow lesser powered e-bikes to be operated wherever regular bicycles are allowed and restrict the use of high powered e-bikes. All this to bring West Virginia law better in line with federal law.

CWV Position:

Status: Introduced 1/17/23, referred to Economic Development and Tourism, then Judiciary; to Judiciary 1/26/23

This bill would encourage solar energy development on lands formerly used for mining and certain third-party co-generation projects, to provide electricity for commercial, industrial and manufacturing businesses or institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations that are located in or will locate operations in West Virginia; authorizing the Public Service Commission to regulate the use of transmission and distribution lines to transport power from these facilities; providing that the solar operations and third-party co-generation projects are not regulated as a utility for providing electricity to these businesses; and authorizing the issuance of renewable energy certificates for renewable energy generated by eligible solar projects.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/19/23, referred to Energy and Manufacturing then Judiciary

This bill would require the erection of cameras by counties in high litter areas and the prosecution of litter cases by county magistrates.

CWV Position:

Status: Introduced 1/19/23, referred to Judiciary then Finance

This bill seeks to prevent orphan gas and oil wells by requiring a fee paid into an escrow set-aside fund for each well as a condition of receiving a drilling permit. The fee would be based on consideration by the Office of Oil & Gas of several factors, including the actual cost of plugging, the well production schedule and market conditions.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/20/23, referred to Energy & Manufacturing then Judiciary

This statute would do too much to summarize adequately. It replaces current statutes regarding licensing of radon testers and laboratories. It adds a new statute regarding periodic testing of x-ray machines. It adds a statute on radon prevention in new school construction. It adds a Radiation Control Act which would bring state regulation into line with the federal government and many other states. The bill would promote the uses of radioactive material in the state for peaceful purposes. It would not apply to any facilities regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The DEP is designated as the State Radiation Control Agency, with a a lengthy list of duties and rulemaking responsibility. The DEP is given eminent domain authority to acquire land for ionizing radiation control projects, and to convey this land to private commercial interests for scientific facilities and "nuclear storage areas." The DEP would also assume responsibility for regulating the perpetual custody of radioactive material at any private site where the owner has abandoned responsibility. The DEP would be charged with developing regulations concerning all radioactive material not under the jurisdiction of the federal NRC, and for licensing, among other things, the storage of this material.

Sponsors: John Hott

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced 1/20/23, referred to Energy and Manufacturing then Judiciary; then to Finance 2/2/23; committee substitute passed House 2/15/23; to Senate Economic Development Committee 2/20/23; committee amendment

The bill would create an authority of representatives from the Northern Panhandle and several other Ohio River counties to coordinate among government and private landholders for the creation of recreation trails in that area. ATVs are not contemplated.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/30/23, referred to Outdoor Recreation

This bill would impose a additional $100 annual fee on gas wells that are otherwise subject to fees at the time of permit application, but that produce 10,000 cubic feet per day.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/11/23, referred to Energy, Industry & Mining; passed out to Finance 2/3/23

This bill would improve the safety requirements for participants younger than 17, would enlarge the period of stream adoption to 3 years from the current 1 year, and require at least one clean-up per year.

Sponsors: Charles Trump, Jack Woodrum, Bill Hamilton

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/11/23, committee reference dispensed with, passed Senate unanimously 1/11/23, sent to House, referred to Government Organizations; passed House with amendment 1/27/23; Senate concurs in House amendment; sent to Governor 2/2/23; approved by Governor 2/27/23

This bill would promote the acquisition and use of abandoned or inactive rail rights of way for use as recreational trails. The bill would permit non-motorized vehicles on these trails and would permit the use of e-bikes.

Sponsors: Jack Woodrum, Jason Barrett, Charles Trump, Vince Deeds

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/12/23, referred to Outdoor Recreation; committee substitute bill 1/26/23; passed Senate 1/31/23; introduced in House 2/1/23, referred to Economic Development & Tourism; passed out to House 2/27/23

This bill authorizes the DNR, with the approval of the Secretary of Commerce, to sell public lands deemed obsolete or unneeded.

Sponsors: Jack Woodrum, Robert Karnes, Randy Smith, Jay Taylor, Charles Trump, Patricia Rucker, Vince Deeds, Jason Barrett

CWV Position:

Status: Introduced 1/11/23 directly in Senate; Constitutional rule requiring three readings suspended; passed Senate 1/12/23, referred to House Judiciary 1/13/23; amended and passed by House 1/19/23; Senate concurred in House amendment and passed 1/20/23; approved by Governor 1/24/23

This bill authorizes the leasing and development of state-owned "pore spaces" underlying state forests, natural and scenic areas and wildlife management areas for the purpose of carbon sequestration. State parks are excluded. Leasing would be to the highest auction bidder. The Director of DNR can award leases without competitive bidding under certain circumstances.

Sponsors: Charles Trump, Craig Blair, Bill Hamilton, Jason Barrett, Robert Karnes, Patricia Rucker

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced 1/12/23, committee reference dispensed with, passed Senate unanimously 1/12/23, sent to House, referred to Judiciary, passed with amendment and made effective from passage 1/19/23; approved by Governor 1/24/23

This bill would impose a replacement cost upon operators of wind power projects where protected bird species are killed in turbines and other machinery.

Sponsors: Randy Smith, Patricia Rucker

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/11/23, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources, then Finance

This bill would make permanent the ATV pilot program for ATV trails in Cabwaylingo state forest. It would allow the development of connector trails from existing private trail systems, such as Hatfield-McCoy, to give all-terrain vehicle users access to state park and forest recreational facilities.

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced 1/25/23, referred to Outdoor Recreation; committee substitute bill passed Senate 3/1/23; passed out of House Economic Development and Tourism committee 3/2/23; amended on House floor 3/4/23; passed House 3/6/23; Senate concurred 3/11/23; approved by Governor 3/11/23

This bill would create a moratorium of 60 days from passage on any agreements designed to prevent timbering for the purpose of biologically sequestering carbon. This ostensibly would allow the legislature to address the issue carefully.

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Originated in Senate Rules Committee 2/25/23; passed Senate unanimously 3/1/23; sent to House 3/1/23; referred to Energy & Manufacturing Committee 3/2/23; committee amendment 3/9/23; passed House 3/10/23; Senate amends House amendment 3/11/23 and requests House to concur