Tomblin Backs Drilling, But Still No Word on Regulation
Charleston Gazette
15 February 2010
By Ken Ward Jr.
Acting W.Va. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s backing of the state’s natural gas
drilling industry, without also pushing for needed regulation of that
industry, continues …
The acting governor’s office issued this statement today in conjunction
with a press conference at the Capitol:
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today, joined by leaders in the natural gas and
chemical industries, announced the formation of a Marcellus to
Manufacturing Task Force. This Task Force will research and develop
potential economic development opportunities related to Marcellus Shale
and natural gas byproducts such as ethane and ethylene.
And, according to this comment from Tomblin, he doesn’t appear to think
there are any problems related to increased drilling across the state:
The environmentally responsible manner in which the extraction of
natural gas from Marcellus Shale occurs will bring countless jobs to
West Virginia. In addition, if we can feasibly develop thermal or steam
crackers to make use of the ethane and ethylene associated with gas, we
will have a great opportunity to reinvigorate our manufacturing sector.
I have asked this Task Force to look at all of the possibilities and
identify how we can take the expansion surge from the natural gas
industry to positively impact our chemical and manufacturing industries.
Tomblin must have missed the news about Clean Water Act violations by
Chesapeake energy and the reports of what happened at Buckeye Run in
Doddridge County — let alone the recommendations from his own
Department of Environmental Protection Secretary, Randy Huffman, for
more inspectors and tougher permitting and enforcement rules on this
growing industry.
One of the two major bills pending at the Legislature was introduced at
the request of WVDEP, but the governor’s office specifically noted that
it was not an administration bill. And Tomblin was not among the state
leaders who turned out for a press conference last week urging
“balance” as West Virginia pushes forward into the Marcellus boom.
Here’s the rest of Tomblin’s press release from today:
Specifically, Governor Tomblin requests the Task Force to:
• Research and analyze the feasibility of converting ethane to ethylene
using thermal or steam cracking;
• Identify potential private sector companies that specialize in
constructing and operating thermal or steam crackers and develop
strategies on how to attract such companies; and
• Locate existing infrastructure in the State, including pipelines and
storage facilities, which may be upgraded to be used in
conjunction with manufacturing processes associated with ethane,
ethylene and other natural gas byproducts.
The Task Force, comprised of the following individuals, will report its
findings to the Governor on a semi-annual basis. The
Task Force Members are:
• Greg Babe, President and CEO Of Bayer Corporation and Bayer Material
Science LLC;
• Kevin DiGregorio, Ph.D., Executive Director, Chemical Alliance Zone
West Virginia;
• Patrick Donovan, Director, Maritime and Intermodal Transportation,
Rahall Appalachian Transportation Institute;
• Don Garvin, Legislative Coordinator, West Virginia Environmental
Council;
• W. Henry Harmon, President and CEO, Triana Energy;
• Michael John, President and CEO, Northeast Natural Energy;
• Jack Lafield, President and CEO, Caiman Energy;
• Steve Perdue, Government Affairs Manager, EQT;
• Scott Rotruck, Vice President of Corporate Development and State
Government Relations, Chesapeake Energy;
• Steven H. White, Director, Affiliated Construction Trades;
• Kurt Dettinger, General Counsel for Governor Tomblin; and
• Keith Burdette, Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of
Commerce.
Each Task Force member appointed by the Governor shall serve a
three-year term.