Today, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection released its hydrofracturing reporting form. The water use report is required by the West Virginia Water Resources Protection and Management Act for any well that uses over 750,000 gallons of water in the hydrofracturing process.
“The Marcellus Shale is currently the formation receiving the most attention in the state,” said Scott Mandirola, acting director of DEP’s Division of Water and Waste Management, “but the report is required for any well that uses over 750,000 gallons in the fracing process, regardless of the target geologic formation.”
The report would also be used for other types of wells that use large amounts of water in a hydrofracturing process, such as coal bed methane recovery.
Companies must report the amount and location from which water was withdrawn from a stream or other waters of the state; the amount injected into the well and the well’s location; the amount of flow-back water recovered; and the method and location of disposal, treatment or recycling. The report must be submitted within 30 days of the end of the flow-back period.
Instructions for completing the internet-based form may be found on the DEP’s Web site on the “Water Use” page (http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/wateruse/Pages/default.aspx). Screen shots of the data entry forms are also available to insure that all data is collected prior to filling in a report. Having all of the data at hand is important because there are a number of required fields, and the form will not advance to the next page unless all required fields are completed.
Companies with questions about the form may contact Michael Stratton, Water Use Section manager, at (304) 926-0499, extension 1280.