WHEELING, W.Va. (AP) — Wheeling planners have approved GreenHunter Water's plan to build a plant that will recycle wastewater from natural gas drilling.
GreenHunter Water plans to begin construction once it receives building permits for the project. The company expects to receive the permits over the next several weeks, the company's parent, GreenHunter Resources Inc., said Wednesday in a news release.
Media outlets report that the Wheeling Planning Commission approved the company's site plan for the plant on Monday.
The plant will recycle wastewater from hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. It will be located off W.Va. Route 2.
"GreenHunter has met all of the requirements as requested by the Planning Commission in Wheeling. ... We are looking forward to helping Wheeling contribute a much needed water management solution to the West Virginia oil and gas industry," John Jack, GreenHunter Resources Appalachian Basin vice president," said in the company's news release.
GreenHunter plans to eventually transport fracking waste barge.
Several federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency are reviewing whether fracking waste can be shipped on inland waterways by barge.
Jack said that the plant will help reduce congestion by replacing truck traffic with barge transport.
Resident Kate Marshall criticized the commission's decision, saying the plant will hurt property values and residents' health.