Shale Insight Philadelphia: Day Two (Wednesday)

cheesesteakA quick note to tell you that this is one of those rare days when MDN will not feature the normal daily news update. Editor Jim Willis spent a very long (but productive!) day attending the Shale Insight event in Philadelphia. More news from the event tomorrow. We’ll leave you with a teaser: Jim was fortunate to get an exclusive interview with the newly nominated (and currently Acting) Secretary of the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection, Chris Abruzzo. To our knowledge, we were the only news/blog organization to be granted an interview with the Secretary yesterday at the event (he was only there for an hour or so).

Jim asked Secretary Abruzzo about PA Attorney General Kane’s prosecution of XTO Energy on criminal charges for an accidental spill three years ago. He also asked the Secretary about his biggest challenge so far in his new role, about the ongoing 18-month air quality study the department is currently conducting, and about John Hanger’s comments in the spring that Abruzzo’s appointment was “bizarre and irresponsible.” We asked it all! We’ll have the interview for you in Friday’s batch of stories. Stay tuned.

Until then, Jim will eat a yummy Philly cheesesteak for you. 🙂