"State oil and gas agencies across the country are straining to prevent a flood of new drilling from harming human health and the environment. But that's not really their job. Or at least not all of it. Their job is also to promote drilling. And sometimes the law makes that their top priority."

"Wyoming regulators are expected to "serve" the industry. Pennsylvania's Bureau of Oil and Gas says its goal is to "facilitate" development. And nearly every other oil and gas agency has a mandate or mission statement establishing increased development as a goal."

Mike Soraghan reports for Greenwire November 30, 2011, as part of E&E News' "Ground Rules" feature series. [2]