The WSJ is reporting that Governor Earl Ray Tomblin is prepared to sign a new rule package governing Marcellus drilling in West Virginia: "Large-scale drilling for natural gas in West Virginia's Marcellus shale deposit will require $10,000 and $5,000 permit fees, buffer zones around wells and advance notices to property owners and the public, under a broad regulatory package the Legislature approved Wednesday. *** Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin heralded the measure at a packed Capitol news conference shortly after the House of Delegates passed it 92-5 and the Senate then voted unanimously to send it to his desk, ending a four-day special session."
For a copy of the legislation, see here.