US President Barack Obama, saying the federal government has a role to play in regulating onshore unconventional oil and gas activities, on Friday said he has formed an interagency working group to coordinate the government's long-term planning efforts, research, and infrastructure development in the sector.
His executive order places 13 Cabinet departments and agencies in the newly formed Interagency Working Group to Support Safe and Responsible Development of Unconventional Domestic Natural Gas Resources.
The unconventional gas policy group will be headed by Heather Zichal, Obama's top energy and climate advisor, the White House said
While the White House reaffirmed that "states are the primary regulators of onshore oil and gas activities," it said the federal government has a role to play in regulating oil and gas activities on Indian and public lands, as well as sponsoring research and encouraging the use of gas in transportation.
Noting that numerous federal agencies are involved with differing aspects of shale oil and gas, "close interagency coordination is important for effective implementation of these programs and activities."
Obama's executive order come two months after the American Petroleum Institute, the major trade group for US oil and gas producers, called on the administration to name a lead agency to coordinate federal efforts in the unconventional arena. API recommended on March 2 that the Environmental Protection Agency lead federal efforts.
API had no immediate comment on the executive order. API CEO Jack Gerard was at the White house Friday morning when the order was released.
Along with the EPA, Obama named the Departments of Defense, Energy, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and Homeland Security to the working group.
Also tasked to provide input are the White House's Council on Environmental Quality, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Office of Management and budget, and the national Economic Council.
Other agencies may be invited to participate, according to the executive order.
