Posted on 04/13/2012 12:05:55 PM PDT by thackney
The Obama administration on Friday established a working group to coordinate federal regulation of natural gas production, amid industry complaints that an increasing number of government agencies are overseeing the activity.
In issuing an executive order to create the interagency task force, President Barack Obama said the group was needed to make sure federal agencies that oversee “the safe and responsible development of unconventional domestic natural gas resources” are on the same page.
“It is vital that we take full advantage of our natural gas resources while giving American families and communities confidence that natural and cultural resources, air and water quality and public health and safety will not be compromised,” Obama said in the order.
The move comes as environmentalists and landowners raise concerns about air and water pollution during a boom of natural gas drilling across the country.
In particular, critics have focused on the hydraulic fracturing process used to extract natural gas from dense rock formations, which involves pumping a mixture of water, sand and chemicals deep underground to crack the material and unlock trapped natural gas. Conservationists warn that the chemicals in those fracturing fluids and gas escaping from poorly constructed wells can contaminate local water supplies.
Industry representatives insist the process is safe and stress that they follow established best practices for drilling and cementing natural gas wells.
Although hydraulic fracturing has generally been regulated by states, several federal agencies are preparing new mandates to govern the practice. The EPA is developing regulations to govern the handling of wastewater from hydraulically fractured natural gas wells, and the Interior Department is expected to set well design standards and other mandates for wells drilled on federal leases. Obama pledged federal oversight — along with a commitment to natural gas development — in his State of the Union speech last January.
The oil and gas industry has chafed at the federal regulations and argues that states are best equipped to oversee natural gas extraction, given the large variations in water management practices and drilling depths from region to region.
Early reaction was mixed, with some industry advocates saying the plan amounted to more federal regulation — rather than a streamlining of it.
Lee Fuller, vice president of government relations for the Independent Petroleum Association of America, said he was concerned this new council would create another venue for federalizing regulation of oil and natural gas production.
IPAA spokesman Jeff Eshelmn said the group hoped the order “provides the administration with a more comprehensive understanding of the federal government’s increasing regulatory grasp on the industry.”
“A key mission of this new coordination effort should be to reach out to the state agencies who already successfully regulate hydraulic fracturing and the industry’s other practices,” Eshelman said
But some groups applauded the move. Business Roundtable President John Engler said the executive order was “a solid first step toward coordinating and, we hope, improving federal oversight of hydraulic fracturing.”
“Federal handling of this technology threatened to become burdensome, with overlapping authorities and unnecessary and duplicative rules,” Engler said in a statement. “We hope this working group can cut through these complications and ultimately encourage further investment in the energy sector.”
Administration officials were briefing industry leaders on the arrangement late Friday morning.
“Because efforts to promote safe, responsible and efficient development of unconventional domestic natural gas resources are underway at a number of executive departments and agencies, close interagency coordination is important for effective implementation of these programs and activities,” Obama said in the executive order.
The group is set to include high-level representatives from more than a dozen agencies and offices, including the departments of the Interior, Energy and Commerce as well as the Environmental Protection Agency.
Obama tasked the group with coordinating on natural gas policy and sharing scientific, environmental and economic data about production of the fossil fuel. The group also would be responsible for doing “long-term planning” for research and development of domestic natural gas.
The White House has used this approach for domestic energy development issues in the past. Last year, the administration created an interagency working group to focus on oil and gas exploration in Arctic waters.
A Gas Czar. May I nominate Biden.
And without congressional approval. It’s good to be king.
We KNEW this was coming. Obama and the left wing-nut enviromental crazies want to sink their regulatory claws deep into natural gas. Natural gas is primarily on private land, that’s why we have seen skyrocketing production. The left will NOT have that. They need to figure out how to shut down natural gas and this is their way of starting down that road.
The result: less gas, prices on the way up once again.
Biden would be more like a “Gas Bag” Czar...
Simply one of the necessary first steps to shut down the industry.
You see, we can’t drill ourselves lower prices....oops!
Will beans be served for lunch, to empower the gas task force?
I’ve made a big bet into abundant, cheap natural gas.
Our home has every gas appliance I can reasonably afford.
In issuing an executive order to create the interagency task force, President Barack Obama said the group was needed to make sure federal agencies that oversee “the safe and responsible development of unconventional domestic natural gas resources” are on the same page. "
THAR SHE BLOWS!!!!!
It looks like someone is setting the stage for the Gub'Ment to put a moratorium on Fracking.
Called It!
But they will ‘undrill’ us back to
high prices and shortages.
This is one step of many coming from
the commies to that end.Ed
:: May I nominate Biden ::
Only if they change his title from “Czar” to “bag”.
How did that work out for the rest of us?
GOTTA MAKE GAS MORE EXPENSIVE!
I see a tripling of my gas bill in the near future.
Meanwhile the drumbeat of Dictator Obama grows louder:
regulate -— control -— destroy -— Regulate -— control -— destroy -— REgulate -— control -— destroy -— REGulate -— control -— destroy -— REGU
Oh Lord!
We’re from the gubmint, and we’re here to help you.
I nominate Barney Frank as he is experienced in drilling in locations known for gas production.
lovely another friday night EO dump where the govt begins to take over another industry. move along folks nothing to see here.
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