 |
| PADEP Acting Secretary John Quigley |
Katelyn Ferral and David Conti reported yesterday in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that:
John Quigley is one step closer to becoming Pennsylvania’s leading oil and gas regulator.
The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to pass along Quigley’s nomination with no recommendation to the full Senate after about two hours of questioning that sometimes turned tense.
“We’re going to have to work together for maybe several years, but I do have questions about some of the things you said in the past,” said Chairman Gene Yaw, R-Williamsport. “I think the proof is in action.”
Quigley, a former adviser and consultant for environmental group PennFuture, was nominated by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf to lead the Department of Environmental Protection. He was Conservation and Natural Resources secretary from 2009 to 2011 under Gov. Ed Rendell.
Lawmakers questioned Quigley on specific policy proposals and questioned whether his appointment could be a conflict of interest. Wolf has tapped two other PennFuture alums for roles in his administration.
“There’s somewhat of a revolving door at PennFuture,” Yaw said.
Quigley said he did not see any conflict, noting that he left PennFuture’s employ 11 years ago and stopped working with it as a client of his consultancy business three years ago.
“When you work in the environmental field … there are limited amounts of employment opportunities in that field,” he said. “My relationship with that organization is in the past.”
Read the full story here
Quigley also responded to questions about his role at the the DEP following a legislative budget hearing on April 2. You can watch that PCN video interview here.
Was this of value to you? Click here for free updates
The social media icons below make it easy to share this.
Recent Blog Posts:
Natural gas industry testifies against PA severance tax
A big federal land-planning effort to save a small bird
NJ energy, environment bills in committee-June 4, 2015
All 3 parts in NJ Spotlight/WHYY series on gas pipelines
Is Christie’s Exxon enviro-settlement Paulsboro’s loss?
