State of WV Looks to Lease Area Under Ohio River for Drilling

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is a pro-drilling Democrat--an unusual occurrence. In fact, Tomblin is so pro-drilling, he's looking to lease the land underneath the Ohio River for drilling! That's sure to give the nutters in the WV Sierra Club heartburn. The governor and his Commerce Secretary, Keith Burdette, have published an official notice seeking bids from drillers. Tomblin and Burdette want a signing bonus AND a hefty royalty to boot. Although a target per-acre bonus amount has not been specified, Tomblin has publicly stated he'd like to see a 20% royalty on any such under-the-river leases...

---

To view this content, log into your member account. (Not a member? Join Today!)