This article originally provided by The Charleston Gazette

February 16, 2011

Chesapeake Energy CEO insulted state

Editor:

Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon sure knows how to start a lasting relationship. His remarks at the International Oil and Gas Association meeting on Thursday insulted our state and its citizens in every possible way.

First, he blamed our judicial system for a decision that went against the company. He excused the hiring of out-of-state workers by intimating that West Virginia workers have "literacy issues" and can't pass the drug screenings.

Then he insulted the many people concerned about issues associated with horizontal drilling, stating that they had "a low level of intelligence about the issue." It is difficult to imagine why Chesapeake even wants to operate in a state for which its leaders have such obvious contempt.

The fact that citizens have information the industry is not officially telling us means we have different intelligence, but certainly not less.

For example, McClendon says the companies will be here forever. That's exactly what these same companies told people in Texas when drilling in the Barnett Shale began a few years ago.

However, four years into the play, not a few of these wells, which they had expected to produce for 10 years or longer, are already dropping in production and profit.

The companies want to get off cheaply here in the Marcellus area to recoup the lagging investments they made in the Barnett states.

The companies also don't tell people that their property will be a permanent industrial site. They do not remove all their equipment. Property values for homes in the production areas already being drilled have often plummeted because no one wants to buy a house with gas drilling equipment in the yard - not to mention the possibility of being constantly bombarded with harmful air emissions.

Buyers want a decent road to a new home, which they are unlikely to find when the water trucks have done their damage.

Promises of good behavior from companies such as Chesapeake are not a substitute for adequate regulation and oversight. Our Legislature should act immediately to ensure firm regulation and a significant increase in the number of inspectors for drilling operations. Companies that are disrespectful of our state and its people can certainly not be expected to protect either.

Leslee McCarty

Coordinator, Greenbrier River Watershed Association
Lewisburg

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