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Marcellus Shale Commission: Dismay Outweighs Approval

By Laura Bonawits, Contributing Writer

Since announcing the formation of the Marcellus Shale Commission during his 2011-12 budget address last week, Gov. Corbett is hearing plenty of criticism about the group’s composition.

“Unbalanced” seems to be a common consensus—in multiple respects. With 30 members onboard, the commission comprises just four environmentalists. On the other hand, 13 members have connections to the gas industry, not to mention links with the governor’s campaign contributions, the Post-Gazette reported.

Some of the individuals invited to the commission include Gary Slagel, chairman of the PA Independent Oil & Gas Association the vice president; Ray Walker, chairman of the Marcellus Shale Coalition; Anthony S. Bartolomeo, chairman of Pennsylvania Environmental Council; and Dave Spigelmyer, vice president of government relations at Chesapeake Energy. A full list of members can be found here.

The objective of the commission, led by the governor’s “very capable” Lieutenant Gov. Jim Cawley is “to oversee how we can build around this new industry and how we can make certain we do this while protecting our lands, our drinking water, our air, and our communities, all the while growing our workforce,” Gov. Corbett said in his address.

While much flak comes from the commission’s number of officials with interest in the gas and oil industry, some have voiced approval of the governor advancing his leadership regarding the Marcellus Shale.

Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, commended Corbett’s initiative to create the commission in a Tribune-Democrat story, calling it a wide selection of key stakeholders who will be dedicated to common-sense policies for developing the abundance of natural gas.

In addition to critique of the environmentalist/gas industry-oriented member ratio, residents and legislators are calling attention to the unbalance of representation from across the state.

Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, called on the governor to add members who come from the northeastern part of the state, an active area for drilling. “I just don’t see adequate representation for our region,” Sen. Blake said in a Republican Herald story.

The Marcellus Shale Commission’s responsibilities include creating, advising and implementing:  additional steps necessary to protect, conserve and enhance the Commonwealth’s environment and natural resources; efforts necessary to promote the efficient, environmentally sound and cost-effective development of Marcellus Shale and other unconventional natural gas resources; policies designed to encourage the end use of natural gas and natural gas by products; work force development needs and opportunities; proposals to address the needs and impacts of natural gas development on local communities.

The governor issued the commission 120 days to report back to him, according to an executive order.

3 Responses

  1. So… executives from the energy industry are committing time and resources to ensuring that their work is done in the most environmentally sensitive way possible by serving on this very transparent commission. And they are overrepresented in doing so. Can you imagine if they were underrepresented? Which makes sense for the ultimate goal?

  2. I have to ask a question(s): If the commission is heavily weighted with gas types would it not be: a. Good to depend on the people who know the industry to provide input; and b. Political suicide to have the commission gut/ ignore the environmental aspects of drilling because I assume that there is a high amount of environmental concern with most independent voters. Therefore,they would be voted out if the legislators ignore/gut the environmental side. Ooops. I forgot. Once legislators who side with the drillers get voted out, they can then get jobs with the industry. (But, I wonder if the drilling industry would in turn trust someone who sells their soul. The answer is – probably because money talkes.)

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