7/27/2019 State Chamber Letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy

1/3

Dear Administrator McCarthy:

Congratulations on your confrmation as the new administrator or the US EnvironmentalProtection Agency (US EPA). Business leaders like us look orward to working with youto fnd the regulatory sweet spot that ensures economic vitality in an ever-improvingenvironment.

We are writing to you as state chambers o commerce where high-volume, hydraulic

racturing with horizontal drilling occurs within our individual state borders. As you mayknow, Illinois recently became a new member o the club o states that have promulgatedrules and/or passed legislative regulations ensuring that hydraulic racturing is employedsaely, transparently and with a continued commitment to environmental protection. Inthat light we wanted to reinorce a request that US EPA continue to allow state regulatorsto take the lead on hydraulic racturing related regulations.

We all have seen the benefts o the increase in oil and natural gas supply due to the growtho this unconventional development. In addition, ater years o activity in many states, itis clear that state regulatory eorts have enabled the country to enjoy the tremendouseconomic growth and job creation generated rom this relatively new energy production,while also ensuring environmental protection is not compromised.

We are all in agreement that common sense, eective regulations are necessary to governthe use o hydraulic racturing and we have embraced this responsibility through regulationparticular to the unique characteristics o our respective states. This is why we oppose any

new ederal intervention that would disrupt the regulatory rameworks o the states.

Our nations citizens and businesses have beneftted rom the oil and gas boom associatedwith the shale plays across the countryall under the regulatory eyes o their statesDepartment o Natural Resources or Environmental Protection Agency. As a ormer stateEPA director in Connecticut, you know frsthand the local expertise that exists within eachstates regulatory departments. No one knows the local geology, land and water better thanstate agency sta and there is no doubt that dierent states have dierent areas o ocuswhen it comes to regulating hydraulic racturing. The current structure also allows statesthe wherewithal to ban hydraulic racturing within their borders i that is the perceivedcollective wish o the electorate.

We are concerned that ederal oversight will be too difcult to manage with such adichotomy o environmental issues in states as diverse as Colorado, Illinois, Texas, WestVirginia and others.

In addition, we recommend that the U.S. Bureau o Land Management (BLM) adhere tothe same restraint when it comes to managing oil and gas extraction in ederal lands. Thisis another example o how dierent areas have dierent needs and even within a state itmakes sense to have one set o rules and regulations that protect the environmentthisis easier and more eective or the states regulators and creates more certainty or theindustry.

September 20, 2013

The Honorable Gina McCarthyAdministrator, US Environmental Protection Agency

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20460

7/27/2019 State Chamber Letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy

2/3

Dave AdkissonPresident & CEOKentucky Chamber o Commerce

Finally, as we look orward to new technological advances in the hydraulic racturingindustry, the individual states are more than nimble enough to react and amend theregulatory models so they provide the appropriate protections or the land and its citizens.

Our states have enjoyed or are looking to reaping the benefts o the relatively new energydevelopment that is changing the ace o our countrys energy portolio. We have a greatnew resource o energy, it is being done in a regulated environment that protects our air,land and water quality and it creates millions o quality jobs or Americans rom sea toshining sea.

We hope youll agree that it is unnecessary or the US EPA or BLM to generate additionalrules or otherwise usurp local expertise and that prudence would dictate continuing thesuccessul tradition o having the states protect their assets in the manner that works bestor them.

Thank you or allowing us the opportunity to voice our opinion and the opinions o ourmembers across the country.

Sincerely,

William J. CanaryPresident & CEOBusiness Council o Alabama

Randy ZookPresident & CEOArkansas Chamber o Commerce

Doug WhitleyPresident & CEOIllinois Chamber o Commerce

Kevin M. BrinegarPresident & CEOIndiana Chamber o Commerce

Mike ONealPresident & CEOKansas Chamber o Commerce

Rachael PetroPresident & CEOThe Alaska Chamber

7/27/2019 State Chamber Letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy

3/3

Dr. Beverlee J. McClurePresident & CEO

New Mexico Association oCommerce & Industry

Gene BarrPresident & CEOPennsylvania Chamber oBusiness and Industry

cc: Secretary Sally JewellU.S. Department o the Interior1849 C Street, N.W.Washington D.C. 20240

Bill HammondPresident & CEOTexas Association o Business &Chambers o Commerce

Barry DuValPresident & CEOVirginia Chamber o Commerce

Steve RobertsPresidentWest Virginia Chamber o Commerce

Daniel JuneauPresidentLouisiana Association oBusiness & Industry

Andrew PetersonPresident & CEO

Greater North DakotaChamber o Commerce

Rich StudleyPresident & CEOMichigan Chamber o Commerce

Webb Scott BrownPresident & CEOMontana Chamber o Commerce

Andrew E. DoehrelPresident & CEO

Ohio Chamber o Commerce