Grand Jury Investigation Finds Pa. Agencies Failed Gas Industry Enforcement

The Pennsylvania Attorney General is releasing a Grand Jury report critical of the state departments that are supposed to be regulating the massive natural gas industry in the Marcellus Shale play.

The Associated Press reports a grand jury investigation found systematic failures in state departments regulating that industry.

The report released June 25 by A.G. Josh Shapiro comes after nearly two years of investigation into the state’s Marcellus Shale exploration industry.

It notes that the state’s Department of Environmental Protection and State Department of Health failed to protect Pennsylvanians by not policing or investigating environmental complaints, failed to collect health data and failed to warn the public when they were at risk.

The grand jury recommends giving Shapiro's office the ability to criminally investigate the industry as well as other increased regulations.