West Virginia Code 22-21-4 – Chief; powers and duties generally
(a) The chief of the office of oil and gas shall have the duty of issuing permits and otherwise supervising the execution and enforcement of the provisions of this article, all subject to the review and approval of the director.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 22-21-4
- Chief: means the chief of the office of oil and gas of the Division of Environmental Protection provided for in section eight, article one of this chapter. See West Virginia Code 22-21-2
- Coalbed methane: means gas which can be produced from a coal seam, the rock or other strata in communication with a coal seam, a mined-out area or a gob well. See West Virginia Code 22-21-2
- Coalbed methane well: means any hole or well sunk, drilled, bored or dug into the earth for the production of coalbed methane for consumption or sale, including a gob well. See West Virginia Code 22-21-2
- Director: means the director of the Division of Environmental Protection. See West Virginia Code 22-21-2
- Office: means office of oil and gas provided for in section seven, article one of this chapter. See West Virginia Code 22-21-2
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- well: shall mean a coalbed methane well unless the context indicates otherwise. See West Virginia Code 22-21-2
(b) The chief of the office of oil and gas is authorized to enact rules necessary to effectuate the purposes of this article, subject to the review and approval by the director.
(c) In addition to all other powers and duties conferred upon the chief, the chief shall have the power and duty to:
(1) Perform all duties which are expressly imposed upon him by the provisions of this article, as well as duties assigned to him or her by the director;
(2) Perform all duties as the permit issuing authority for the state in all matters pertaining to the exploration, development, production and recovery of coalbed methane in accordance with the provisions of this article;
(3) Perform such acts as may be necessary or appropriate to secure to this state the benefits of federal legislation by establishing programs relating to the exploration, development, production and recovery of coalbed methane, which programs are assumable by the state;
(4) Visit and inspect any coalbed methane well or well site and call for the assistance of any oil and gas inspectors or other employees of the office of oil and gas in the enforcement of the provisions of this article;
(5) Collect the permit application fee for the drilling of a coalbed methane well;
(6) Collect the permit application fee for a drilling unit.