American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2022 - 41

" Shapiro is sending environmental
specialists to townships to interview people, "
he relates. " And yet, the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation dumps 120
pounds per lane per mile on snowy roads.
It may be a different type of salt, but the
brine he is questioning only comes from
about 300-400 feet deep, and not deep
underground reservoirs.
" Apparently, nobody is doing anything
right, " Weaver muses. " Shapiro has created
an environment where none of the regional
regulators wants to make a decision because
they are always fearfully looking
over their shoulders. Sometimes the failure
to make a decision is worse than making
the wrong one. "
Despite the political jockeying now
underway, Harrisburg may seem like a
rock of regulatory stability compared with
Washington, Weaver suggests. He cites
the example of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's Standards for Performance
for New, Reconstructed, and
Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines
for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas
Sector Climate Review, which the Biden
administration issued in November (AOGR,
December 2021, pg. 33).
" We have to vigilantly stay on top of
things and stick together, " Weaver urges.
" We submitted comments through national
organizations and cooperative partnerships,
but we also formed a Pennsylvania contingent
with some other state groups to
submit comments, because we have to
stay engaged. If we are not engaged in the
beginning the process, we have no right
to speak up in the middle or the end. "
Ultimately, Slagel assesses, the Biden
administration's regulatory approach to
oil and gas appears to prioritize cutting
greenhouse gas emissions without taking
in the larger picture. Although a limited
perspective that fails to fully weigh the
costs and benefits of various energy
sources has become so common that it
even come up repeatedly during Super
Bowl television commercials, he considers,
genuine prudence entails dealing with
facts as they really are.
" The administration's actions seem
consistent with its overall theme that the
world needs to do something about climate
change and the United States is going to
take the lead, " Slagel characterizes. " I
don't think the public fully comprehends
what it means to get away from fossil
fuels. For instance, a lot of people seem
to assume we will save the planet by
switching to electric vehicles without
asking how that electricity is generated
or how those electric vehicles are made.
PIOGA is trying to make people understand
the big picture, but the drumbeat is
so loud. "
MARCH 2022 41
Spring Conference
Weaver notes PIOGA's 2022 Spring
Meeting will not require as many pandemic-related
restrictions as its 2021
event. " We are looking forward to getting
some normalcy back, " he relates.
" At this point in the process last year, I
was not even sure how many attendees we
would be allowed, but it was looking like
would be limited to 80, " he contrasts. " This
year, it is nice to work from a solid plan. "
Along with the normal legislative and
regulatory updates, including remarks from
Senator Yaw, the highlights Weaver mentions
include a panel discussion about the new
era of environmental, social and governance
considerations; an environment-focused
year in review; innovation in the region's
energy industry; and a look at Pennsylvania's
gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races.
For his part, Slagel admits that seeing
his colleagues is the part of the convention
for which he is most eager. " We put together
a great program, but I am looking
forward to the camaraderie more than
anything, " he reflects. " Last year, as I
left Rivers Casino at the end of the day, I
felt so positive about the whole experience.
I am confident I will feel the same way
leaving this one. "
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American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2022

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