"CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia regulators will temporarily take the lead on regulating Marcellus shale drilling while lawmakers attempt to craft long-term rules for developing this rich natural gas reserve, acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced Tuesday.

Tomblin signed an executive order that directs the Department of Environmental Protection to issue emergency rules largely focused on the hydraulic fracturing that can accompany drilling into the mile-deep rock formation. ...

Both industry and environmental groups called Tuesday's order a positive first step."

Lawrence Messina reports for the Associated Press July 12, 2011. [2]