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.