Source:  NCDENR, 8/1/14

Officials with the state Mining and Energy Commission have scheduled a fourth public hearing, this time in western North Carolina, to receive public input on proposed rules for regulating oil and gas development in North Carolina.

The public hearing is scheduled for 5-9 p.m. Sept. 12 at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center, 199 Centennial Drive, Cullowhee. People wishing to speak during the hearing are asked to register starting at 4 p.m. The hearing will be recorded.

The Sept. 12 event is in addition to public hearings planned for Aug. 20 in Raleigh, Aug. 22 in Sanford and Aug. 25 in Reidsville.

Written comments from the public will be accepted at all four public hearings and may also be submitted at any time July 15‒Sept. 15 with the exception of one rule. Rule 15A NCAC 05H .2103, “Timing and Notice of Reclamation,” was omitted by mistake when the state Office of Administrative Hearings first published the proposed rules in the N.C. Register on July 15. Due to this omission, the public comment period for this rule only will be extended until Sept. 30.

Hard copy written comments should be sent to:
DENR-Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
Attn: Oil and Gas Program
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC  27699-1612

Written comments may also be submitted electronically through the state Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources’ website at: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mining-and-energy-commission/public-comment-meetings.  

The complete text of the proposed rules and proposed revisions to existing rules is available online at: http://portal.ncdenr.org/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=812822fd-9e97-4359-8935-4f07e713f0b1&groupId=8198095.

The public comment period for Rule 15A NCAC 05H .2103 ends at 5 p.m. Sept. 30. The public comment period for all other proposed oil and gas development rules ends at 5 p.m. Sept. 15.