The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet and its agencies will hold three public meetings to give interested parties an opportunity to express their opinions on oil and gas development and production in Kentucky. The meetings will be held in Hazard, Somerset and Madisonville at dates and times to be determined.
Representatives from the cabinet’s Department for Natural Resources, including the Division of Oil and Gas, and the Department for Environmental Protection will be on hand at the meetings. EEC Secretary Len Peters stressed the format of the meetings will allow for brief spoken comments by those wishing to speak and the submittal of written comments.
“There will be no debate between those on each side of the issue. These will be ‘listening sessions’ for the cabinet to receive comments on a wide array of issues surrounding the Kentucky oil and gas industry,” said Peters.
The remarks made at the meetings will be captured on video and used in a report to be given to the oil and gas workgroup, made up of environmental interests, industry representatives, and regulators. The workgroup has been meeting to update and modernize Kentucky’s statutes and regulations regarding all areas of oil and gas exploration, including fracking. The report will also be made available to members of the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office for possible further action.
The report will help further the work of the oil and gas workgroup, according to Peters. “The input from the general public is extremely valuable as this group moves forward. We want to be certain future legislation addressing oil and gas exploration, especially fracking, takes into account all points of view.”
The passage of SB 186, which received unanimous approval in both chambers of the General Assembly, was the product of the workgroup. Department for Natural Resources Commissioner Steve Hohmann chaired the group.
“Some statutes haven’t been updated in more than 40 years. Drilling and completion techniques have evolved to reach deeper oil and gas resources. The statute revisions address these new techniques while allowing the Energy and Environment Cabinet to better protect the public and environment,” said Hohmann. “Specifically the bill requires public disclosure of high volume hydraulic fracturing fluids and additives, prior public notice when high volume hydraulic fracturing treatments are used, water testing near high volume hydraulically fractured horizontal deep wells, and reclamation of oil and gas sites. The bill also established an abandoned storage tank fund and makes statutory changes to better regulate deep well drilling including horizontal drilling.”
An announcement of the locations, dates and times of the three public meetings will be made in the coming weeks.
From the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet
Representatives from the cabinet’s Department for Natural Resources, including the Division of Oil and Gas, and the Department for Environmental Protection will be on hand at the meetings. EEC Secretary Len Peters stressed the format of the meetings will allow for brief spoken comments by those wishing to speak and the submittal of written comments.
“There will be no debate between those on each side of the issue. These will be ‘listening sessions’ for the cabinet to receive comments on a wide array of issues surrounding the Kentucky oil and gas industry,” said Peters.
The remarks made at the meetings will be captured on video and used in a report to be given to the oil and gas workgroup, made up of environmental interests, industry representatives, and regulators. The workgroup has been meeting to update and modernize Kentucky’s statutes and regulations regarding all areas of oil and gas exploration, including fracking. The report will also be made available to members of the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office for possible further action.
The report will help further the work of the oil and gas workgroup, according to Peters. “The input from the general public is extremely valuable as this group moves forward. We want to be certain future legislation addressing oil and gas exploration, especially fracking, takes into account all points of view.”
The passage of SB 186, which received unanimous approval in both chambers of the General Assembly, was the product of the workgroup. Department for Natural Resources Commissioner Steve Hohmann chaired the group.
“Some statutes haven’t been updated in more than 40 years. Drilling and completion techniques have evolved to reach deeper oil and gas resources. The statute revisions address these new techniques while allowing the Energy and Environment Cabinet to better protect the public and environment,” said Hohmann. “Specifically the bill requires public disclosure of high volume hydraulic fracturing fluids and additives, prior public notice when high volume hydraulic fracturing treatments are used, water testing near high volume hydraulically fractured horizontal deep wells, and reclamation of oil and gas sites. The bill also established an abandoned storage tank fund and makes statutory changes to better regulate deep well drilling including horizontal drilling.”
An announcement of the locations, dates and times of the three public meetings will be made in the coming weeks.
From the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet