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Local government study group of Mining and Energy Commission to meet Wednesday in Sanford
Story Date: 1/16/2013
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Source: NCDENR, 1/15/13
A study group of the North Carolina Mining and Energy Commission is scheduled to meet Wednesday in Sanford to examine local governments’ regulation of oil and gas exploration and development in North Carolina.
The Local Government Regulation Study Group will meet from 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday at the Lee County Emergency Operations Facility, 204 West Courtland Drive in Sanford. The study group is a part of the North Carolina Mining and Energy Commission, which is required by state law to develop a modern regulatory program to manage oil and gas exploration and development activities in North Carolina.
The study group is required to make recommendations to the full N.C. Mining and Energy Commission on local government regulations for oil and gas exploration and development, including horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. The commission is responsible for producing recommendations that allow for “reasonable local regulations” such as setback requirements and noise restrictions that don’t prohibit oil and gas exploration and development activities.
The study group is working with the North Carolina League of Municipalities, N.C. School of Government, the John Locke Foundation, Development Consultants, Environmental Permitting and Law Consultants, and the N.C. Association of County Commissioners to produce recommendations on local government regulation of oil and gas exploration.
Topics scheduled for discussion on Wednesday include local government regulations in other states and the impacts of oil and gas exploration and development on roads and other infrastructure.
The North Carolina Mining and Energy Commission is required to report its findings and recommendations, including legislative proposals, to the Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy and the Environmental Review Commission by Oct. 1, 2013.
To learn more about the North Carolina Mining and Energy Commission, check out the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ website devoted to the topic, http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mining-and-energy-commission/home The site includes a schedule of upcoming meetings.
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