APNewsBreak: Chevron meets shale drilling rules

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http://hosted2.ap.org/NCFAY/9672d9fdd81a405387d1c9ef08e47277/Article_2014-09-18-US--Gas%20Drilling-Chevron/id-7ba113b5ca3749ab83ddfd19db5408b1

APNewsBreak: Chevron meets shale drilling rules
By KEVIN BEGOS, Associated Press
Sep. 18, 2014 8:00 AM ET

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chevron has become the first energy company to meet a new set of voluntary shale gas drilling standards that aim to go beyond existing state laws in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, the Pittsburgh-based Center for Sustainable Shale announced Thursday.

The center is a partnership between major energy companies, environmental groups and charitable foundations. Its certification process consisted of an independent review of Chevron documents and 22 of its production sites in the three states.

The program is meant to work much like Underwriters Laboratories, which puts its familiar UL seal on electrical appliances. The review was conducted by Bureau Veritas, an international testing company that also handles the LEED review process for the U.S. Green Building Council.

Nigel Hearne, president of Chevron's Appalachia operations, said that the 15 Sustainable Shale standards "will produce meaningful results" in reducing pollution and freshwater use, and that he hopes other energy companies join in the process. Chevron Corp. is based in San Ramon, California.