Big Gas Mafia’s influence deadly

Their influence permeates everything, even our research universities. There are a number of universities represented on the EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study panel. We must demand transparency!

Lionel Milberger, the author of HOW COLLEGES & UNIVERSITES ARE PARTICIPATING IN POLLUTION ACTIVITIES. Made the following public comment to the EPA regarding the hydraulic fracturing study.

FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Relative to SAB Hydraulic Fracturing Study Plan Review Meeting

In order for the EPA, its staff members and the public be properly informed, the EPA should require at least the following disclosures to be made by the Review Panel members on this study.
1. The employer of each member (Universities for professors) should disclose the following:
1.1. Any and all donations from all O&G companies made during the last 10 years.
1.2. Any interest in minerals, including income per year for the last 10 years. Also who donated these interest to the employer and/or if the interest is on employer owned lands.
2. Any mineral interests owned by the panel members during the last 10 years, and dollar amount of income derived from these interests whether received in money or to trusts.
3. Prior employment history of each panel for the last 20 years.
4. Each panel member should disclose any in-house review organizations through which official documents went through.
5. Any communications with any O&G companies relative to input or review of documents/information for this review at the EPA.
The public should be made aware of any and all influence/s from O&G operators that may be present on this panel and it’s members.
Lionel Milberger

This week I received the following message in my inbox:

FYI: East Resources CEO, Terry Pagula, donates $88,000,000 (yes $88 million!) to Penn State for their hockey team… just prior to PSU report on the economic benefits of shale gas production on the Marcellus. What a strange co-incidence! Then, after a sufficient number of leases were signed, sold East Resources to Royal Dutch Shell for $4.7 billion… with a ‘B’

Follow the money, and connect the dot’s people!

$88M can buy a hell of a lot of scientific ‘research’

Remember that Texas A&M is already indebted to the head industry protector in Texas

A&M Regents were Perry’s No. 2 source of appointee cash, yielding $113,127 per appointee. Four A&M appointees besides Wendy Gramm gave the governor more than $200,000 apiece.

One glance at the Summer 2010 issue of Texas A&M Engineering News will convince anyone that Texas A&M cannot be trusted to provide unbiased research regarding the oil and gas industry.

• Cynthia & Mark Albers, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corp. have announced two gifts totaling $380,000.
• The Anadarko Foundation gave $1 million to the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering.
• The Halliburton Foundation has endowed an engineering faculty chair to help prepare students for careers in the energy industry.
• Chevron – $1,351,050
• BP – $1,117,420
• Halliburton – $890,471
• BP Foundation – $500,000
• Anadarko Petroleum – $805,000
• ConocoPhillips – $326,000
• ExxonMobil Foundation – $312,740
• Exxon Mobil – $234,500
• Energy Future Holdings – $234,000
• Dow Chemical Foundation – $217,020
• Shell Oil – $126,200
• Marathon Oil – $116,625
• Chesapeake Energy – $80,000
• Entergy Services – $76,826
• Shell Global Solutions (US) – $75,000
• Schlumberger Technology – $74,000
• Boanerges Land and Royalty – $60,000
• Estate Oil & Gas – $60,000
• Oasis Minerals – $60,000
• Chesapeake Operating – $41,000
• and etc.

And the worst of the Big Gas Mafia influence peddlers are the Koch Brothers, owners of Koch Oil Company and founders and funders of the Tea Party. On First Day Of New Congress, Koch Operatives Met With GOP Chairman Planning To Gut The Clean Air Act.

We should all demand transparency in the EPA study. (I was going to make an off color joke about keeping the lights on and our eyes open when we get screwed but I decided to refrain.)