Chesapeake Appalachia Removes W.Va. Couple's Environmental Suit to Federal Court

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Chesapeake Appalachia LLC has removed a West Virginia couple's lawsuit over alleged environmental damage from gas drilling waste to federal court on diversity of citizenship grounds. Whiteman, et ux. v. Chesapeake Appalachia LLC, No. 5:11-cv-00031-FPS (N.D. W.Va.).

Chesapeake filed its Notice of Removal on Feb. 23, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, citing its principal place of business in Oklahoma and plaintiff Martin and Lisa Whiteman's residence in West Virginia.

The Whitemans filed their lawsuit against Chesapeake in Wetzel County (W.Va.) Circuit Court on Dec. 23, alleging that the company's drilling …