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MEETING LOCATION CHANGED - Outside Review of N.C.’s oil and gas regulatory programs underway
Story Date: 10/25/2011
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Source: PRESS RELEASE, 10/24/11
A nonprofit organization asked by state environmental officials to review the state’s oil and gas regulatory programs as part of a legislatively mandated study of oil and gas exploration in North Carolina began its public review of these programs today in Raleigh.
State Review of Oil & Natural Gas Environmental Regulations, Inc. (STRONGER), a nonprofit organization whose board is comprised of state, industry and public interest representatives, is conducting a review of the environmental regulatory programs of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources against national guidelines developed by STRONGER. The review is being conducted by a stakeholder review team, which consists of a representative of the public, a representative from the oil and gas industry, a state representative and official observers.
The review began today, and will continue Oct. 25 at 8 a.m. in Conference Room Three on the 14th floor of the Archdale Building, 512 N. Salisbury St. in Raleigh. The team will continue to meet throughout the rest of the week in the Archdale Building until the review is completed.
The public is invited to observe STRONGER’s review process from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day. Although STRONGER does not take public comments during these sessions, the STRONGER review team will collect written comments on the review process at the end of each session. At 2 p.m. each day, the STRONGER review panel will go into an executive session involving only the panel members.
A report containing the review team findings and recommendations will be developed by early February 2012 and made available to interested parties. Additional information about STRONGER, the guidelines and reports of prior state reviews can be found at www.strongerinc.org, or by calling/emailing Ben Grunewald at (405) 516-4972 or bgrunewald@gwpc.org.
Session Law 2011-276 directed DENR to study the potential environmental and economic impacts of shale gas exploration and development in North Carolina. DENR held an initial public meeting on Oct. 10 to receive input on its draft plan of study, and will schedule two more public meetings next year before presenting a final report to the General Assembly in early May.
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