Fayette County Commission voted unanimously to pass an ordinance that bans dumping, storing, or injecting oil and gas waste anywhere in the county. It’s the first ordinance of it’s kind in West Virginia. The ordinance also allows citizens to enforce penalties in civil and criminal court.
Community members presented county commissioners a petition with 5,000 hand-written signatures that support of the ban. Concerns with one particular waste operation, Danny Webb Construction in Lochgelly, are part of what instigated residents to organize and push for the ordinance.
In a release community organizers call the ordinance “a big step in protecting water and health in Fayette County.” County officials won’t comment on whether or not they expect legal pushback on the ordinance.
In 2013, there were 54 non-commercial and 17 commercial disposal wells in the state, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.