Government Task Force to Examine Marcellus Shale Development
The State Journal
15 February 2011
By Walt Williams
CHARLESTON -- Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced Tuesday he had
created a task force to research and develop potential economic
development opportunities related to the Marcellus Shale and natural
gas products such as ethane and ethylene.
The 12-member task force is composed primarily of representatives from
the natural gas industry but also includes a member each from the
environmental community and organized labor. Tomblin signed the
executive order forming the group during a news conference at the
Governor’s Office.
“The environmentally responsible manner in which the extraction for
natural gas from Marcellus Shale occurs will bring countless jobs to
West Virginia,” he said in a prepared statement. “In addition, if we
can feasibly develop thermal or steam crackers to make use of ethane
and ethylene associated with gas, we will have a great opportunity to
reinvigorate our manufacturing sector.”
The task force has been asked to accomplish three missions:
• 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.
Not on the list was research to mitigate what environmentalists say are
the adverse impact of many drilling operations on groundwater supplies
and the surrounding environment, or a look at what could be done to
resolve conflicts between surface owners and the owners of the minerals
beneath them.
Asked about the absences, Tomblin noted that a environmentalist was on
the board and it could be expanded to include a surface rights
representative.
The 12 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;
• Steve 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 will serve a
three-year term.