The DEP Office of Oil and Gas (OOG) has been forced to severely reduce its staff due to budget shortfalls. Currently, OOG only has 9 inspectors overseeing approximately 75,000 wells and 28,000 tanks across the state. That’s 1 inspector for every 8,000 wells.

The West Virginia Legislature can fix this problem. Legislators can advance bills that ensure the WVDEP Office of Oil & Gas receives the resources required fulfill its mission to regulate and inspect oil & gas activities.

On 2/15, the Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee advanced SB 480 to help address the problem. Read our fact sheet.

Now, SB 240 is in the Senate Finance Committee Contact Committee members, encourage them to fix the budget crisis!