Abandoned oil and gas wells have been a problem in West Virginia for more than a century. Lawmakers did the right thing during the most recent regular session by passing House Bill 3336, which allows operators to fill wells with cement without having to remove the central casing.

That might not mean much to a lot of us, but the process is said to be easier, cheaper and safer. It could also help protect groundwater, and with staying on top of modern efforts.

“It gives accounting for the casings that are put in,” said Del. Mark Zatezalo, R-Hancock, “the double casings that are put in through freshwater. And that really caught my eye, because going forward, that’s going to become important when we start to eliminate some of the wells that are out of production.”

Zatezalo, a hydrogeologist,

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