Oct 25, 2018 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – There were no protesters outside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Thursday morning. And Andrew Wheeler was no longer inside.

The third and final day of the annual Shale Insight conference focused on the wonders, complexities and concerns of natural gas – a subject that attracted large crowds, including a number of industry leaders. This was in stark contrast to Wednesday, when Wheeler – acting director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – gave the keynote address.

Wheeler emphasized that President Donald Trump plans to continue to deregulate the energy industry. He spoke as a group of about 100, made up largely by American Indian leaders and environmental activists, marched from Point State Park to the convention center near the Strip District, expressing concerns about the effects gas processing may have on air, land and water.

Pittsburgh-based Marcellus Shale Coalition sponsored the Shale Insight event, along with the Ohio Oil and Gas Association and the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association. Panel discussions Thursday centered on various aspects of the industry, from cybersecurity, to ambient air monitoring, to permitting and energy independence.

Prevention was the byword of the cybersecurity discussion. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum was the moderator, and he expressed an overriding concern: cyberattackers often target an individual or small group with the hope of that leading to something big.

“They hit through small guys that have an avenue to the big guys,” Santorum said.

“Cyberattacks are increasing, and what do they have in common? You,” said Sean O’Brien, president and chief executive officer of @RISK Technologies. He stresses prevention, to have cyber expertise and to take small steps to prevent theft of information.

Another panel focused on ambient air monitoring in areas near natural gas drilling sites, compressor stations and pipelines. The group talked about how monitoring air quality is an inexact science, subject to variations in wind and other factors. The five panelists agreed “we have to be super clear on facts,” but said it is difficult even to determine where a monitor should be placed.

“We can’t do site-specific monitoring at every (drill) site. It isn’t practical,” said Chris Rimkus, assistant general counsel of MPLX/MarkWest.

Rimkus said, “We need good data to refute fears in communities and for workers. Our data says, yes, you are safe, but you have to be safe. We work in these communities, we live in these communities. We don’t want anyone to be at risk.”

Wheeler’s appearance the day before prompted backlash even before he stepped to the podium. Several environmental groups issued statements Tuesday opposing his appearance. They included:

• Dan Grossman of the Environmental Defense Fund: “Wheeler seems to forget that his agency’s job is to protect the environment, not do the bidding of the oil and gas industry. Rolling back methane standards is an affront to America’s families and communities dealing with the health and environmental impacts of oil and gas drilling and operations. And given that EPA’s own data show emissions from Pennsylvania operators continue to increase, the Trump/Wheeler rollbacks are a challenge to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. If EPA won’t protect Pennsylvanians, then Gov. Wolf must.”
• Jacquelyn Bonomo, president and CEO of PennFuture: “PennFuture remains deeply troubled by the direction and policies of the U.S. EPA under President Trump, as carried out by Acting EPA Administrator and former coal industry lobbyist, Wheeler, and previously by disgraced but equally as dangerous former Administrator Scott Pruitt.”
• Joseph Otis Minott, executive director and chief counsel of Clean Air Council: “Administrator Wheeler has a lot of gall to come to Pennsylvania and tell us that regulatory rollbacks are good for us – especially when the majority of Pennsylvania residents actually want more action on climate change. In fact, it’s what nearly every climate scientist in the world says we need to do immediately to avoid catastrophic consequences.”
• Earthworks Pennsylvania/Ohio Organizer Leann Leiter: “When … Wheeler speaks … he won’t be visiting to talk about protecting the health of the 1.5 million Pennsylvanians living within one-half mile of our state’s 100,000 active oil and gas facilities. He’ll be here to promise industry that he’s going to loosen environmental and health safeguards to pad their bottom line.”