"Cozy" is not the word we want to associate with the relationship between regulator and regulated. Yet while we might imagine regulatory agencies pursue their goals impartially, recent history is crowded with examples to the contrary.
After the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, an internal report conducted by the Department of the Interior found that representatives of the Minerals Management Service routinely accepted gifts from representatives of the oil industry, and socialized regularly.
The "c" word came up then, as Interior Secretary Ken Salazar called the report "further evidence of the cozy relationship between some elements of MMS and the oil and gas industry."
Local fracking foes reacted with anger to the recent news that state regulators granted gas industry insiders exclusive access to the proposed regulations for gas drilling in New York before the public ever saw the draft.
The Albany Times-Union wrote on June 27 that email exchanges between the state Department of Environmental Conservation and gas industry representatives suggest "an overly cozy relationship."
"This shows beyond a shadow of the doubt that the industry has been in the catbird seat, writing the DEC regs for its benefit," local anti-drilling activist Adrian Kuzminski told The Daily Star on June 28.
The communication wasn't, strictly speaking, a secret. According to the Times-Union, an undated notice on the DEC's website discloses the fact that "the (DEC) participated in outreach to the regulated community through this process, including the solicitation of comments from affected industry."
But "solicitation of comments" can mean a lot of different things.
The DEC solicited comments from the general public, too. But the conversations there seem to have been much more one-sided.
The extensive back-and-forth that took place between the DEC and industry representatives certainly suggests the gas industry enjoyed a privileged position from which to influence the DEC.
The agency is saying it did nothing wrong _ and certainly no laws appear to have been violated. But the public trust, already fragile when it comes to the volatile issue of gas drilling, has taken another blow.
If the DEC truly had nothing to hide, it owed the people of New York more than just a vague one-sentence statement on its website. It should have been more forthright about the scope of its communications with the gas industry. And, more importantly, it should have found a way to extend the same courtesy to those on the other side of the issue.
Strange how no one accuses the DEC of being too "cozy" with environmental groups. It couldn't be because the gas companies are the ones with all the money, could it?
Opinion
Regulators shouldn't get too cozy
- Opinion
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Satirical letter was pleasant change of pace
It was a pleasure to read the letter by Mr. Stammel of Stamford in the May 15 Daily Star.
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Teacher was wrong to dismiss fracking
As a longtime resident of Delaware County, and a person with strong business connections to the area, I was shocked to find that my grandson who was graduating from an unnamed upstate high school was told by his science teacher that fracking was not safe.
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Grads' fulfillment can wait if need be
Let's not mince words. Today's college graduates have it rough when it comes to job prospects.
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NRA's senators ignored will of the people
Last month, the bipartisan proposal to expand background checks in the Senate failed with a majority of 54 senators voting to support the bill.
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Fracking moratoriums are ridiculous
A moratorium is defined as a delay or stopping of an activity. Recently some local town boards issued moratoriums that included prohibiting vertical gas drilling. Since the early 1800s, 70,000 vertical wells have been successfully drilled in New York state. About 14,000 are active, contributing 44,000 jobs, and permits are still being issued by the DEC.
- Thursday, May 23, 2013
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Fed ammo theories show who is gullible
Ask 10 people for their thoughts on the National Rifle Association, and you'll likely get a broad range of responses. But on one point, we can all agree - if a threat to the Second Amendment appears, the NRA will find out about it and quickly spread the word. That's why it was nice to see the NRA last summer shoot down one of the more absurd rumors that's been making the rounds: that the federal Department of Homeland Security and other agencies are hoarding massive stockpiles of ammunition for secret, nefarious purposes.
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Natural gas boom is a false promise
Support for the Constitution and Leatherstocking Pipelines is based primarily on the false promise of affordable shale gas. False, since the price of this gas is too volatile to make it a reliable energy source in the future.
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Locally led baseball team deserves support
Springtime has finally come to us in the greater Oneonta area, with its warmth, sunshine, emerging shrubs, green lawns, with more smiles than frowns, and how we relish it!
- Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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Schools must find ways to deal with threats
Anonymous threats to schools are nothing new. Through the years, they have consisted -- among other messages -- of anonymous phone calls, magazine or newspaper lettering glued to a letter, and scrawled warnings on a bathroom mirror.
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City should improve access to river
Many cities make the river running through it a focal point for its scenic qualities. By doing this, they attract more people to their city to spend some time there and also utilize the stores, restaurants and hotels.
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Otsego County veteran's director is top-notch
The veterans of Otsego County are being well-served by Jack Henson, director. I feel he is the best director that has ever served in this county.
- Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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On our Opinion: Cheers
To the DEP's "The Watershed Experience," the Oneonta High School Envirothon team, and to ROPS rebate funding.
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Make sure Blodgett project holds water
Many thanks to Dennis Finn and the Planning Commission for allowing unrestricted public comment on the Blodgett Drive housing project at the commission’s May 15 meeting. Most who spoke are residents of the area who know the safety and drainage issues well.
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We need a law against Google Glass
It’s a technological marvel; a product ahead of its time, or at least ahead of the law for the time being, that is.
- Monday, May 20, 2013
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Make sure you vote in school tax election
School superintendents have it anything but easy in these challenging economic times. In addition to dealing with myriad day-to-day and semester-to-semester issues, they have to have Solomon-like political acumen and management skills.
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No foreign aid until our needs are met
I couldn't agree more with Sal Furnari's letter published in the Weekend edition. I would also like to add that when I was growing up I was taught to "take care of my own first" and then share with others.
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THIS WEEK'S POLL
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It's sad to see Rich Murphy retire
It was a sad day for Otsego County when Rich Murphy announced his intention to retire from the county board at the end of his current term.
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Liberal media only care about themselves
Sounds like it all depends on 'whose ox is being gored' when it comes to the illegal phone tappings of reporters.
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Street Talk: May 20, 2013
Do you think that recent high school graduates have a harder time finding a job than previous generations?
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Satirical letter was pleasant change of pace
