Drilling Certification Program Tests Advisors' Call For Voluntary Approach

摘要

Gas producers and environmentalists have jointly crafted a voluntary certification program for the Northeast shale region for companies that voluntarily adopt environmental performance standards, which may serve as a test for 2011 advice from Obama administration advisors that such centers be used throughout the country to facilitate best practices. But broad industry participation in the effort is uncertain as key service companies, such as Halliburton, have yet to weigh in on whether they will participate in the certification process. And some environmentalists are skeptical that the effort goes far enough. "If the honor system worked with Texas and Oklahoma drillers, we wouldn't have the problems we do today," Ohio Citizen Action said in a statement. And one environmentalist says the effort is "by no means" intended as a substitute for federal and state environmental regulations.