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What you don’t know about shale gas may surprise you

http://www.exxonmobilperspectives.com/2012/04/20/what
-you-dont-know-about-shale-gas-may-surprise-you/?utm_source=paid.outbrain.com&utm_medium=cpc&utm
_campaign=Perspectives_-_Natural_Gas

excerpt:
States are the primary regulators of onshore oil and gas activities, including shale. A recent executive order from the White House made news for its intent to coordinate the dozen federal agencies and departments currently involved with various aspects of shale gas development. But as both the order and a recent Reuters article point out, states are the primary regulators. This is because much of the unconventional natural gas development takes place on private lands, and states have the most knowledge and experience with their own geology, resources, rules and regulations.

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Executive Order -- Supporting Safe and Responsible Development of Unconventional Domestic Natural Gas Resources

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/04/13/
executive-order-supporting-safe-and-responsible
-development-unconvention

excerpt:
While natural gas production is carried out by private firms, and States are the primary regulators of onshore oil and gas activities, the Federal Government has an important role to play by regulating oil and gas activities on public and Indian trust lands, encouraging greater use of natural gas in transportation, supporting research and development aimed at improving the safety of natural gas development and transportation activities, and setting sensible, cost-effective public health and environmental standards to implement Federal law and augment State safeguards.