Environmentalists Want Wells Plugged

Advocates say major drilling companies are failing to responsibly plug oil and gas well in West Virginia. The Gazette-Mail reports Dave McMahon, a lawyer and co-founder of the West Virginia Surface Owners’ Rights Organization, said drilling companies have “orphaned” wells across the state by transferring them to other companies instead of plugging them. McMahon says his group has asked the state Department of Environmental Protection for a hearing on the transfer of more than 3,800 wells.