Bill > SB15

This bill amends West Virginia law to better protect commercially valuable minerals, specifically coal, oil, and gas, from potential harm caused by carbon capture practices, which involve injecting and storing carbon dioxide underground. The key changes require that any applicant seeking a permit for a carbon sequestration or storage facility must design it to isolate nearby valuable minerals from the carbon dioxide plume, ensuring that existing or future mining or storage operations are not negatively impacted. The application process will now mandate that applicants identify commercially valuable minerals within and around the proposed storage area, notify mineral owners and lessees, and demonstrate that their interests will not be adversely affected. If objections arise from these parties regarding potential harm to their mineral rights, the applicant must address these concerns to the satisfaction of the permitting department before the application can proceed. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that permits will only be issued if the applicant can show they have made a good-faith effort to obtain consent from all parties with rights to the storage area's pore space (the underground spaces where carbon dioxide is stored) and have attempted to negotiate with any non-consenting parties. The bill also emphasizes the need for adequate notice to all potentially affected parties, including mineral owners and operators of oil and gas resources, and ensures that non-consenting pore space owners and lessees will receive just and reasonable compensation. Finally, the bill updates requirements for rule-making concerning site characterization, well construction, operation, monitoring, financial responsibility, and reporting for carbon sequestration facilities.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=15&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill