Virginia's Natural Gas Industry- Powering America - Fueling Virginia Communities
Virginia’s Natural Gas Industry has made it a priority to focus on the safe and environmentally sound production, extraction, and transportation of the state’s natural gas resources for more than 80 years.
Quick Facts: 2013 Economic impacts
Reclamation and Reintroduction - Virginia’s Natural Gas Industry has made it a priority to focus on the safe and environmentally sound production, extraction, and transportation of the state’s natural gas resources. Utilizing specially chosen seed mixes in the reclamation of gas well sites, the gas industry has been able to provide safe and beautiful habitats for many of Virginia’s wildlife species including; elk, wild turkey, quail and variety of birds not seen in the area in decades.
Elk roamed Virginia long before the Commonwealth was settled. The end of Virginia's native elk population occurred in the mid-1800s. Subsequent attempts through the years to reintroduce elk into Virginia were unsuccessful until multiple members of Virginia’s Natural Gas Industry partnered with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) to provide safe, thriving emerging ecological systems for these great animals. The elk reintroduction project is one of many which has shown that wildlife, gas drilling and fracking can thrive side by side without harmful impacts. Industry members have received multiple recognitions and awards from the VDGIF, RMEF, and National Wild Turkey Federation for the roles they have played as good environmental stewards throughout the years. How is Virginia's Industry regulated?The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy’s Division of Gas and Oil regulates all aspects of natural gas drilling. Other regulating bodies include: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Virginia Marine Resource Commission, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. The industry is also regulated under the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act.
Virginia's History1898: Virginia’s fi rst natural gas well drilled in Wise County (not commercial)
1931: First commercial gas well in Virginia drilled in Scott County 1940s: Pipelines begin to develop in Virginia 1950s: Hydraulic Fracturing begins in Virginia 1972: Conventional drilling programs ramp up 1988: Coalbed Methane (CBM) development begins 2007: Horizontal drilling begins in the Huron shale 2012: Virginia Natural Gas Industry members win IOGCC Environmental Stewardship Award for assisting with reintroduction of Virginia’s elk |
FACT: Virginia’s natural gas industry producers, suppliers and contracting companies have offices here in Virginia and employ thousands of Virginia residents, providing them with family wage-sustaining jobs and benefits.
FACT: Virginia’s Natural Gas producers have paid Hundreds of Millions of Dollars directly to royalty owners since 1990.
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