Published: March 30, 2009 12:36 am      

Is there a methane gas problem?

It is a silent, odorless killer — methane gas. And it may have been responsible for an explosion at a home in Metz last April. So it was out of fear that something similar could happen in Laurel Run just outside of Fairview that Jimmy Weaver contacted Marion County: Fact or Fiction. It wasn’t so much a rumor that he wanted to report, but a question that he wanted answered: Has the roof of the old Eastern Association’s Federal No. 1 Mine opened up and leaking methane gas?

And that’s a hard question to answer, even for our team of investigative reporters. According to Weaver, the methane problem on his property began in 1996 after core drilling was done to test the area for a suspected mine subsidence, and after the hole was drilled, methane began to leak to the surface. Weaver provided a DVD and pictures to the Times West Virginian, which clearly show some sort of gas bubbling up in rainwater collected on his property. He provided pictures from 2008 and as late as January 2009.

But we weren’t the first one Weaver contacted. He has been in constant contact with the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Abandoned Mines and has asked that a hole be drilled to vent methane gas away from his property and that the state buy him a methane gas detector. He provided us with a list of detectors, which range in price from $1,100 to $3,800. Weaver also provided us with a letter from Ronald D. Lane, acting emergency program manager for the DEP’s Office of Abandoned Mines dated June 23, 2008. Lane writes that there are indications that Weaver’s problems may be caused by past coal mining in the area.

“There are many similar problem areas in West Virginia,” Lane writes. “Your problem changes have been inventoried and may be worked on in the future. Although this department may not be able to act as quickly as you may desire, our actions must be in accordance with state and federal guidelines.”

So we contacted Lane in the DEP’s Philippi office. Lane said that in 1996, a hole was drilled in the area to check for mine subsidence. This mine subsidence was discovered. However, the drill encountered a “fractured rock zone,” which released methane to the surface. He said that it is not uncommon in West Virginia to find these pockets of methane. However, Lane added that this particular hole in Laurel Run was plugged.

Weaver has contacted Lane on several occasions about his suspicions of methane gas leaking near his property, and Lane said that he has sent several inspectors to the property to look for the dangerous gas. But not since the drill hole was plugged has there been any detection of methane gas, Lane said. DEP inspectors have also checked Weaver’s home and basement without any detection of methane.

He added that these methane detectors are very accurate and are heavily relied upon by the DEP.

“Our lives depend on those monitors,” Lane said. “They’re very reliable.”

Lane said that his employees have also checked out the stream where Weaver claims that methane is being released. No methane was detected at the stream either, he said.

“We’ve spent many hours out there looking for methane, and we haven’t found any,” Lane said. Lane stressed that the DEP has not dismissed Weaver’s claims and that they are taken very seriously. However, he emphatically stated that no methane is being detected. Therefore he does not have the authority to buy a methane detector for Weaver nor can he authorize drilling to vent the mine if methane is not being detected on the surface.

“I’ve exhausted all of our avenues under the law,” Lane said. “I don’t have the resources to allay someone’s fears if I don’t have any evidence. If there were a way I could help Mr. Weaver, I sure would.”

Unfortunately, in this particular case, we cannot determine whether Weaver’s claims are fact or fiction. We have to put our trust in those with the knowledge and the appropriate equipment to continue to work with Weaver to determine whether there is a problem on his Laurel Run property.

E-mail Marion County: Fact or Fiction at rumors@timeswv.com or call our dedicated voice mail line at 304-267-2509.