Joe Manchin

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.

The most troubling thing that I have concern of is--and you and I have spoke about this, is the contract that you have with the pipeline company that the first 75,000 barrels of, let's say, of product is going to be leaving our State which…

I think that you all can do that.

If I can to Mr. West, do you believe that it's possible to have an irresponsible drilling operation that could do irreparable harm to our environment if we don't have specific drilling rules in place?

Let me just say with all of our power plants and we're very hopeful for a new coal to liquids plant in Southern West Virginia, Mingo County.

I'm going to say when the cracker plant is built in West Virginia we will see billions of dollars of development.

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

We owe it to future generations to make sure that we clean up whatever we've left behind.

The industry didn't like it.

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.

We just feel like we need real numbers.

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

Are we ahead of the curve on that one?

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

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

We need to work together to chart a path forward in a safe and responsible way that allows us to produce energy right here in America and create well paying jobs for hard working Americans.

I'm sure that you're going to see the Federal Government hopefully act in a way that creates a good partnership.

I know that you have the best interest of the State of West Virginia.

Let's put that in the rule. Let's put that in the statute.

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.

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

I encourage you to come together as West Virginians always do and work for the betterment of the people of West Virginia.

I know that will help our legislators in making their final determination if you all can be in agreement.

We want to thank him. He's been gracious enough to say that he will not go into his opening statements.

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?