Joe Manchin

I think it's a great idea that at some point in time we need to designate a portion of our severance money to go into a perpetual trust that we use solely for infrastructure in West Virginia in the future.

I think we've taken action in that regard.

But taking care of the past sins is not yet a consideration.

It needs to be a great cash, I mean, for this type of a play coming in to put something properly to take care of that?

How many air pollutants are we getting from them that should be taken care of?

We have time for one more round. I know Senator Capito has to catch a plane. I want to thank her for participating.

I can't speak specifically whether the tax credit in--the downstream to the spin off industries that you're talking about.

I know that last session we already acted and provided important tax incentives for anybody that was interested in establishing a cracker plant in this State.

They actually sat down and helped us write a good bill.

The industry didn't like it.

That's what we're after, Congressman. It's not meant to be a punitive thing by any measure.

We just feel like we need real numbers.

If it's 20 percent West Virginians and 80 percent out of State, I'm not so happy.

If the legislature falls short of securing the revenue or enhancing the revenue that the DEP is going to need how do you all plan on funding that?

But the citizens have made it perfectly clear to us over the last few years that they want some regulation and some rules put into place.

The main thing that we have to remember here is this is the beginning. This is not a bill that it's a onetime deal.

I stand ready to offer you any assistance that I can provide in this important inquiry and will continue in my efforts to advance a reasonable and balanced approach to regulation of this new opportunity for West Virginia.

If a cracker is constructed in West Virginia an additional $3.2 billion would likely be invested in downstream chemical facilities

What happens if you all don't agree?

We'll be asking the same questions to our State panels too, but that's something you would work with them on?

Do you all set the rules or oversee basically how the well is drilled to make sure it's safe?

Are we ahead of the curve on that one?

I would like to see the States be able to maintain their primacy.

It really is only going to be cured if your 2 agencies are working as one.

Senator Rockefeller's concern. He could not join me today but he told me, you know, that he's very interested in the outcome of these hearings.