It's been brewing since Gov. Joe Manchin's failed legislation from August's special session: a dispute over the proximity of new natural gas wells to minable coal seams.
The West Virginia Coal Association and others in the industry have now asked the state Supreme Court to block their gas counterparts from obtaining special permit waivers from the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission.
As The Associated Press reports, the coal interests argue the commission lacks jurisdiction over the kind of well the gas operators seek to drill. They also contend that the closer these wells are drilled to each other, the more they force conflicts with state and federal mine safety rules.
The justices voted 4-0 to consider the writ of prohibition.
09 November 2007
Big Coal vs. Big Gas
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