July 22, 2010

Urge Congress to Support "Onshore" Drilling Reforms
ACT NOW: Improve energy extraction safeguards nationwide – not just in the Gulf

Earlier this week, WV-SORO joined more than 70 national, regional, state and local organizations in sending a letter urging members of Congress to support a package of legislative reforms intended to help protect health and the environment from onshore oil and gas exploration and production including new environmental protections, better enforcement, support for clean energy to reduce our dependence on dirty fossil fuels, protection of the most sensitive places and better health and safety standards everywhere else.

In the wake of the continuing Gulf oil spill disaster, Congress is poised to act. They face a stark choice, however.

Focus narrowly on the the Gulf of Mexico OR Take the lessons learned from the Gulf disaster and apply them nationwide in a comprehensive plan to modernize our Nation’s  energy policies.

Our current energy policies put communities and the environment at risk everywhere energy development occurs. 

Think of the recent well explosion in Marshall County  or the blowout in Clearfield, PA.

Click here to take action to push for a comprehensive solution to the disaster in the Gulf, and energy development nationwide.

Response to Membership Renewal Request Overwhelming ~ THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who recently renewed their WV-SORO membership.  The response to our membership renewal request has been overwhelming.  Your financial support makes it possible for us to continue to push a Surface Owners’ Bill of Rights to improve and strengthen West Virginia’s oil and gas laws and to give landowners more say in the location of wells and access roads on their property.  In addition to advancing the rights of surface owners in their struggle for fair treatment and just compensation when minerals are developed on their land, we are also supporting efforts to protect our water resources from Marcellus Shale development.

We greatly appreciate your generosity for these issue that hit us all so close to home.

If you've been putting off renewing your membership, please do so now so that we can continue to educate landowners about their rights and keep up the fight for justice in West Virginia’s oil and gas fields. Your continued support is needed now more than ever.
Please send your membership dues to: WV-SORO, 1500 Dixie Street, Charleston, WV 25311

As always, feel free to contact us with any of your questions or concerns.  Thank you!

Reminder: July 23 Deadline to Register for Community Leader Training Weekend

The Alliance for Appalachia will be hosting a weekend long training for community leaders August 13- 15th 2010 at Camp Virgil Tate near Charleston, WV. The training will focus on skills and information related to community organizing as well as issues such as developing economic alternatives.  By providing a number of longer and shorter workshop options, the goal is to appeal to people who have been organizing in their communities for a long time, as well as those who are just getting their feet wet.

Please Note: The registration for this great training ends TOMORROW, Friday, July 23, 2010. 

Head on over to TheAllianceForAppalachia.org/training to learn more and to register. You can also download a version of the registration form. Click here to view a draft agenda.