Senior Rendell Aide Leaves Job To Work For Shale Gas Company - 3rd In Past Year

[hatrack]

Another member of Gov. Rendell's inner circle has left to work for a Marcellus Shale natural gas producer, the third high-ranking administration official in the last year to move directly into the fast-growing industry. Sarah Battisti, one of Rendell's five deputy chiefs of staff, has taken a government affairs position with BG Group, a British gas company that recently bought a stake in Pennsylvania's natural gas business, Steve Crawford, Rendell's chief of staff, said Monday.

With seven months remaining in Rendell's term, Battisti's departure could signal a migration of experienced administration aides into the natural gas industry, which is regulated by the state Department of Environmental Protection and is deeply enmeshed in a legislative debate over proposals to tax gas extracted from the Marcellus Shale formation. "One thing the industry appears to have at their ready disposal is money, so they're hiring lots of people to help with their lobbying or permitting problems," Crawford said.

Battisti's departure comes two months after Barbara Sexton, the executive deputy secretary of environmental protection, left to work in governmental affairs for Chesapeake Energy Corp., an Oklahoma company that is one of the nation's largest gas exploration firms.

And last fall, K. Scott Roy, Rendell's executive deputy chief of staff, raised eyebrows when he went to work for Range Resources Corp. Roy was chief liaison between the governor's office and the gas industry and environmental groups, and his hiring came soon after Rendell dropped efforts last year to enact a natural gas tax. The governor said Roy's new job had nothing to do with his decision.

EDIT

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20100713_Rendell_advisers_getting_jobs_with_shale_gas_firms.html

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Not a good sign..at all..

"and his hiring came soon after Rendell dropped efforts last year to enact a natural gas tax. The governor said Roy's new job had nothing to do with his decision."

Of course. Why would we think that???????????? :crazy: :silly:

[Altoid_Cyclist]

3. Exactly, there couldn't possibly be a connection. (wink & a nod) Although......

From the Susquehanna County Gas Forum:

The state legislature is bought and sold by oil and gas companies interested in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale gas deposits.

At least, that is the accusation made today by several government reform organizations and a local state representative.

Joined by the League of Women Voters, Penn Future and State Rep. David Levdansky, Common Cause accused the oil and gas industry of trying to buy the state legislature through campaign contributions and multi- million dollar lobbying campaigns.

The accusers said the goal is to prevent tough regulations of Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling and a severance tax on its extraction of natural gas.

Read more: http://gasdrillingawarenesscoalition.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/contributions-from-drilling-companies-to-campaigns/



Other interesting sites that explain why and how the Oil & Gas Huns are able to so easily destroy whatever they want in PA and other gas producing states. Almost no regulations and/or inspections plus the fact that the PA DEP is little more than a joke at times.

From http://www.donnan.com/Marcellus-Gas_Hickory.htm

“There are areas in terms of regulation that local governments are struggling with. In some cases Pennsylvania regulations and regulatory agencies are in transition. It is unclear if the challenges of balancing industry and public safety are being met. There is great local concern that D.E.P., even with their proposed increased staffing has no chance of keeping up with the pace of the drilling activity, let alone the increased responsibilities D.E.P. is taking away from conservation districts.”

“There are concerns about the regulation of “drilling pits” or ponds, disposal of what is known as “drilling mud,” which in some cases is being encapsulated in the pond’s liner and buried on the land owner’s property after drilling ceases. Water quality and possible contamination is also of concern.”

Lots more http://www.donnan.com/Marcellus-Gas_Hickory.htm


http://www.earthworksaction.org/SplitEstate.cfm

http://solveclimate.com/blog/20090929/fracking-accidents-prompt-calls-oversight

http://frackmountain.wordpress.com/beta/

[BrklynLiberal]

4. I was thrilled when this was stopped in upstate NY ..right near the reservoir that serves NYC

The potential for horrific damage and tragedy is limitless.

Hopefully this can be stopped before it decimates any more people and other living things, as well as the land itself..

[Altoid_Cyclist]

5. If they allow Marcellus exploration in that area (NY), I will have officially

concluded that the human race is beyond hope.

With apologies to the Treasure of the Sierra Madre:

Terrorists..we don't need no stinking terrorists, we have our own way to poison the water supply.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Absolutely right.

[phantom power]

2. What a big, happy family.