Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and other top state officials have reaffirmed that PA shale gas inspectors have the full authority to issue violations without prior approval from the DEP Chief. This is in response to a controversial email from a PA DEP aid to agency staff, leaked to the media on March 23, 2011. The directive made it clear that shale gas inspectors must first send violations to two top agency aids, with “final clearance” by the new DEP cheif, Al Krancer, as nominated by Governor Tom Corbett. While the PA DEP claims it was a move to ensure uniformity in the enforcement of regulations, critics, like the PA Sierra Club, pointed to it as undermining the authority of DEP inspectors and public confidence in the agency.
“I am pleased that inspectors have had their authority to issue notices restored,” remarked John Hanger, former DEP chief under the previous governor.
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