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This is the page where you will find links, information, and support!

help assistance directions fracking

Contact your state and U.S. representatives about the issues that matter to you!

Don't forget, Local Government is a central player in important decisions. Please visit your local county commission on a regular basis with your concerns!
  • County Commissioners' Association of WV
  • West Virginia Association of Counties
  • Handbook for Elected Officials
  • WV Secretary of State, Counties Page

Slide show on How to Research, Document, and Report Environmental Issues, including FOIA requests,what's in the Horizontal Well Act, how to get help at the DEP, and other websites that help track gas drilling activity.

Reports on many aspects of the pipelines can be found on the Pipelines tab!

Conservation & Environmental Groups
West Virginia

POWHR (Preserve Our Water, Heritage, Rights) is an interstate coalition working together to protect the water, local ecology, heritage, land rights, and human rights of individuals, communities, and regions from harms caused by the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure.

Buckhannon River Watershed Association works to protect and monitor water resources in Upshur County, WV. You can also join us on Facebook. Consider joining your local watershed group to see how you can become involved in the fight to keep our Appalachian home clean and beautiful for generations to come.

OVEC (Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition) Formed in 1987, OVEC is a nationally recognized grassroots organization dedicated to preserving and protecting our natural heritage.
West Virginia Highlands Conservancy has been protecting WV's environment since 1965. 

West Virginia Surface Owners' Rights Organization (WVSORO) educates people about the rights of surface owners, in a state where "split estate" (where mineral and surface owners are two parties) obtains in a majority of cases, and the rights of mineral owners carry more weight than the rights of surface owners to be free from disturbance. They have a special section on negotiating pipeline easements, and much more!

Sierra Club WV is very active in the state, and sponsors seminars and events, as well as keeping track of how our politicians are voting. They have a scorecard to help voters around election time.

WV Host Farms keeps track of shale development in the state, along with photos and stories of people affected by all aspects of it.

WV E-Council keeps abreast of laws and regulations, upcoming votes, and more.

WV Rivers Coalition works with state agencies and policymakers to safeguard water quality in the state.

Friends of Water began in January 2014 after the Freedom Industries leak in to the Elk River that poisoned the water for over 300,000 West Virginians, and continues to promote clean, safe water as a human right.

Preserve Monroe is a coalition of landowners, residents, businesses and organizations in Monroe County, WV. Preserve Monroe encourages citizens to participate in the responsible stewardship of our resources to assure the healthy and prosperous future of Monroe County and all of WV.

Preserve the NRV stands united against the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Advocates for a Safe Water System is an all-volunteer community group out of Charleston, WV  that formed in response to the January 9, 2014 chemical leak into West Virginia's Elk River, which contaminated the drinking water for 300,000 people.  Their mission is to ensure a safe water supply for the people of WV.

Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition is a coalition of active volunteers currently monitoring pipeline construction in WV and VA. Volunteers do flyovers, take photos, take stream samples, and monitor conditions related to work on the lines as it affects water quality in the region.

Occupy the Hollers is a fracking educational support group covering WV, OH, & PA.

Interfaith Power & Light promotes faithful stewardship of Creation by responding to global warming through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. 


The Energy Justice Network is the first national organization to advocate a complete phase-out of nuclear power, fossil fuels, large hydroelectric dams and "biomass" / incineration within the next 20 years. We believe that this is possible, affordable and absolutely necessary.What is holding us back is only a lack of political will.Energy Justice is the grassroots energy agenda, supporting communities threatened by polluting energy and waste technologies. Taking direction from our grassroots base and the Principles of Environmental Justice, we advocate a clean energy, zero-emission, zero-waste future for all.

Ohio

Ohio River Foundation's  mission is to protect and restore the water quality and ecology of the Ohio River and its tributaries for the health and enjoyment of present and future generations.

The Ohio Organizing Collaborative has a page on Environmental Justice. This is a long-standing umbrella agency that brings together social justice groups over issues of environmental justice, immigration reform, incarceration reform, and more.

Virginia

The Augusta County Alliance has a plethora of information on the new routes, the economic costs, and what you can do about the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
Free Nelson Facebook Page
Friends of Nelson County, VA
Preserve Floyd
Preserve Craig
Summers County Residents Against the Pipeline (SCRAP) Facebook Page
BREDL (Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League)
Chesapeake Climate Action Network

Pennsylvania

Friends of the Harmed, informally known as “Fracking’s Good Samaritans,” has been on the frontlines of the battle against the fracking industry, and has been supplying clean, safe water and air in Avella and Rea Township for four years.  The group, which is a project of the Thomas Merton Center, has donated over $22,000 to buy indoor air filters for toxic air pollution, water buffalo replacement systems to provide potable water, bottled water, and independent water and air quality testing to assess which chemicals are present.
The Isaak Walton League, Harry Enstrom Chapter
Ken Dufalla has been doing water sampling and research on Greene County streams for years. See his informational video here.

PennEnvironment is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization. 
 
The Alliance for Aquatic Resources Monitoring (ALLARM) envisions people who are empowered through science education to participate in decision making about water resources in their local community.

Kentucky

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth is a community of people, inspired by a Vision, building New Power and a better future for all of us.

Legal Support


 (WV) Appalachian Mountain Advocates stands by landowners who are being sued by gas or pipeline companies for the right to enter their property for surveying or other purposes. They are perhaps the only law firm in WV that is mounting challenges to the proposed Dominion line as well as the proposed MVP line.  This entails substantial expenditure on expert reports that will be submitted to FERC to make the case the pipelines are not necessary and that the adverse impacts outweigh any benefits. 

(WV, VA & NC) LOLLAR LAW -Chuck Lollar (VA & NC) and Chip Lollar (VA & WV) represent only property owners in eminent domain and property rights litigation in Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia; they are willing to represent owners pro bono to fight the pipeline  for illegal early entry for surveys and inspections, and on a contingent fee basis if the pipeline acquires easements through the governmental power of eminent domain. 

The Speer Lawfirm handles private nuisance for oil and gas and CAFO's. Numbers for the firm in Kansas City, MO are 1-816-472-3560. Debbie Lambert, Legal Assistant 1-724-513-7900 can answer many questions. Partners  Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee, and Dietzler in Charleston can be reached at 304-345-5667.

State Agencies 

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
See also the
        Division of Oil and Gas
       
Database containing info on gas well permits and more
        Division of Water and Waste
        Office of Permitting
​ The WVU Center for Energy and Sustainable Development  focuses on promoting practices that will balance the continuing demand for energy resources—and the associated economic benefits—alongside the need to reduce the environmental impacts of developing the earth’s natural resources. 

These sites will give you lots of information on state laws, rules, and procedures around gas activity. The permitting page will show you all of the permits for non-gas activity, such as stormwater permits, which are used in pipeline construction. Other pages have lots more helpful info. If you have questions, you can call the supervisor of each department. The agency staff directory is here. Names are listed alphabetically first, and then by agency.
WV Public Service Commission's (PSC's) Division of Pipeline Safety
This site discusses all aspects of pipeline safety, including federal regulations from PHMSA, such as data and statistics on incidents.

The WV Department of Transportation has rules and regs related to personal and commercial transport, and regulates intrastate pipelines.

West Virginia Water Research Institute is busy doing research related to water issues.

West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey has information about pipelines, seismicity, gas formations, and more.

Federal Agencies

​EPA Office of Environmental Justice organizational chart (in other words, whom to call when you have a problem)

EPA's Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory Panel

The FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) must approve interstate pipelines. Their website is full of information on the number of pipelines permitted and under consideration, as well as information on laws, rules, and policies that govern them.

Office of Pipeline Safety -  The Department of Transportation's (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA), acting through the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), administers the Department's national regulatory program to assure the safe transportation of natural gas, petroleum, and other hazardous materials by pipeline.

The Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance is sponsored by the United States Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety. 

PHMSA, the Pipeline Hazards and Safety Administration, is a treasure trove of info on federal laws regarding pipeline safety.
   
This document has federal code on pipeline safety, including information and regulation regarding High Consequence Areas.
    This page has general regulations.
    This page has pipeline technical info.
    This page will give you a breakdown of the number of miles of pipeline in the United States, separated by type.

The Department of Transportation has a section on pipeline safety and hazmats.

The National
Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) is charged with determining the probable cause of transportation accidents and promoting transportation safety, and assisting victims of transportation accidents and their families.

Consumer Advocacy Organizations

The Center for Public Integrity’s nationally honored environmental investigations have explored everything from tainted air in cities across the U.S., to questionable green energy contracts to workplace hazards.
T​he Pipeline Safety Trust promotes pipeline safety through education and advocacy, increased access to information, and partnerships with residents, safety advocates, government, and industry, resulting in safer communities and a healthier environment.

Food & Water Watch envisions a healthy future for our families and for generations to come, a world where all people have the wholesome food, clean water and sustainable energy they need to thrive. We believe this will happen when people become involved in making democracy work, and when people, not corporations, control the decisions that affect their lives and communities.

The Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) acts to build healthy communities nationwide, with social justice, economic well-being and democratic governance. We provide essential resources, strategic partnerships and training to local leaders to achieve this mission. Please also see this page from the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units on the risks of hydraulic fracturing to babies and children.

Project Wet has a plethora of programs and activities to teach school-aged children how to conserve and protect water resources in their communities. Grants and partnerships are available to connect people and teachers to these programs.

Represent.Us is the nation’s largest grassroots anti-corruption campaign. We bring together conservatives, progressives, and everyone in between to pass powerful anti-corruption laws that stop political bribery, end secret money, and give voters a stronger voice. Together, we’re fixing our corrupt political system – so our leaders represent us.

Science-Based Orgs 

The Center for Accountability in Science examines the science behind stories in the news.

The Union of Concerned Scientists - Our scientists and engineers develop and implement innovative, practical solutions to some of our planet’s most pressing problems

Physicians for Social Responsibility has news, reports, and other information relating to health and public policy.

PSE Healthy Energy is a multidisciplinary research and policy institute focused on the adoption of evidence-based energy policy. 

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Rules, Legislation, and Guidelines Governing Gas Infrastructure
State (WV)


Horizontal Well Control Act
Read the entire code here.

Summary of Provisions in the Horizontal Well Control Act
This summary was put together by WV SORO (Surface Owners' Rights Organization).

What is NEPA?
Industry Guidance on Gas Well Drilling and Completion
Includes guidelines on water use/withdrawal, site construction, and water disposal.

Erosion Manual
This contains info on E&SC (erosion and sediment control) for well pad and pipeline construction. Includes info on access roads, stream crossings, impoundments, and reclamation. This is a good place to start learning about the proper techniques of building these structures in the most environmentally sound way, and what to look out for if you are monitoring pipeline construction sites or well pads.

Rules, Laws, & Guidelines, Federal

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (aka the Halliburton Loophole)  exempted fluids used in the natural gas extraction process of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) from protections under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and CERCLA[21]. It created a loophole that exempts companies drilling for natural gas from disclosing the chemicals involved in fracking operations that would normally be required under federal clean water laws.

This link from the Energy Information Administration explains the Natural Gas Act very generally. For more info, check out the Wiki article.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions. 

EPA's Clean Water Rule

This document, Hazard Mitigation Planning: Practices for Land Use Planning and Development near Pipelines, was prepared by the Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA) and sponsoredby the U.S.Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Blogs 

Ken Ward's Sustained Outrage has been covering the ravages of the fossil fuel industry, chemical industry, water safety, and public health in WV since Feb. 2009.

Michael Barrick's Appalachian Chronicle covers the ethics of oil and gas development in WV.

This blog from a retired coal miner gives an interesting view of The War on Coal.

Books

Prepping 101 by Kathy Harrison will get you prepared for both natural and man-made disasters. Find her blog here and buy her book on Amazon.

​Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right : This report explains the Koch empire and their efforts to influence politics in America

This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein is one economist's view of how we should think about markets and the value of life on the planet.

Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt, by Chris Hedges, is a scathing indictment of corporate greed and environmental destruction in rural Appalachia.

Our Stolen Future, by Theo Colburn, examines the role of endocrine disruptors in public health.

Informational Resources 

Chemical Info:

Toxnet: Your resource for searching databases on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, environmental health, and toxic releases

Industry Resources

INGAA, representing Interstate Natural Gas Pipeline Companies, has info on laws and regulations.

Xylene Power, a Canadian company, has produced a very information-intensive document regarding safety setback. This would be a great document to present to county commissions, lawmakers, or industry policymakers looking to improve their standards.

Effect of industry on ecosystem services, economics of an area, etc.

Environmental Impact of Construction (generally)

News

Chris Hedges' website Truthdig takes investigative journalism a step further, telling truth to power unapologetically. Chris' website covers all the news you didn't hear about all the topics the powers that be don't want you thinking about, including dirty politics and the destruction of Appalachia.
And speaking of unapologetic investigative reporting, Rachel Maddow offers deep analysis and incisive social commentary on the news you may not have heard, in depth and from an angle you may not have gotten from the mainstream media. Rachel is smart, sassy, and refreshingly blunt, but still classy.
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  • Home
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