This article originally provided by The Charleston Gazette

Octoboer 18, 2010

Kanawha planners recommend oil, gas drilling fees

By Staff reports

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County planning officials want to start charging permit fees for companies that want to drill oil and gas wells.

Last week, members of the Kanawha County Planning Commission voted in favor of a $100 fee for construction or site work related to drilling oil and gas wells in the county. The fee would jump to $400 for companies that want to put oil or gas wells on property that is in a flood plain.

Planning engineer John Luoni said the county already charges similar fees for other construction projects. He said the fee is designed to cover what it costs planning officials to keep track of oil and gas drilling projects, review flood plain maps and keep up with paperwork related to the projects.

Representatives of the oil and gas industry spoke against the proposed fees at a regular meeting of the Planning Commission last week. Industry spokesmen said the oil and gas industry is already regulated on the state level and said additional fees would make it harder for companies to drill for oil and gas.

Members of the Planning Commission approved the fee and will recommend its adoption.

County commissioners are expected to vote on whether to adopt the fee in November.