CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Governor Earl Ray Tomblin on Thursday announced the formation of a commission through an executive order that will focus on safety in the state’s oil and gas industry.
“As we continue to explore opportunities to diversify our state’s energy portfolio, we must ensure the safety of hardworking West Virginians at drilling sites, production facilities and pipelines across the state,” Tomblin said in a news release. “This Commission will help us determine how to best protect workers at natural gas operations while ensuring our workers have the proper training and skills to do their jobs in the safest, most effective way possible.”
The commission will review current federal and state oil and gas workplace safety regulations, as well as provide recommendations for improving workplace safety.
The news came as no surprise to industry experts who praised the decision to form the commission.
“We applaud the governor for his foresight and instituting a study,” said Charlie Burd, executive director of the Independent Oil and Gas Association. During his State of the State address in January, the governor called for a “study to determine how we can best protect workers at natural gas operations.”
Burd said nothing is more important to the industry than the safety of workers, adding that the commission will “bring to rest a lot of questions regarding safety on well sites and on pipeline projects…
