Tournament: Univ Northern Iowa | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge: 

Observation 1 is the status quo –

Federal fracking regulations are overlapping, impose unnecessary costs and stifle investment causing skyrocketing gas prices and decreased production – Specifically:

A) New Source Pollution Standards %26 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Reviews

Pyle ’12
Thomas J. Pyle, President, Institute for Energy Research (IER), National Journal, 4-23-12, Regulating Natural Gas: What’s the Right Balance?, http://energy.nationaljournal.com/2012/04/regulating-natural-gas-whats-t.php-http://energy.nationaljournal.com/2012/04/regulating-natural-gas-whats-t.php, jj

EPA’s Flawed Rule Warrants Scrutiny
EPA’s proposed rule, called "Oil and Natural Gas Sector: New Source Performance
AND
imposes unnecessary costs on doing business based on shaky assumptions and vague authority.

B) Disclosure requirements

Platts ’12
Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals and metals information, and a premier source of benchmark price assessments for those commodity markets. Since 1909, Platts has provided information and insights that help customers make sound trading and business decisions and enable the markets to perform with greater transparency and efficiency.
6-18, Proposed BLM fracking rule has no scientific basis: IECA, http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/NaturalGas/6394906-http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/NaturalGas/6394906, jj

The federal Interior Department’s proposal to regulate hydraulic fracturing on federal lands has no scientific
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states have voiced their objections to the proposed new federal regulation of fracking.

C) Wastewater regulations

Oil %26 Gas Monitor ’12
4-11, Industry Must Prepare for Fracking Wastewater Regulations, http://www.oilgasmonitor.com/industry-prepare-fracking-wastewater-regulations/1723/-http://www.oilgasmonitor.com/industry-prepare-fracking-wastewater-regulations/1723/, jj

The EPA continues to closely examine hydraulic fracturing practices and, therefore, the industry
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lands onto private lands as well. Enter the EPA’s Clean Water Act.

Coming regulations will make prices volatile despite the current supply glut

Faulkner ’12
Chris Faulkner is the Founder, President and CEO of Breitling Oil and Gas, an independent oil and natural gas company based in Irving, Texas. Founded in 2004, Breitling Oil and Gas employs state-of-the-art petroleum and natural gas exploration and extraction technologies for the development of onshore oil and gas projects.
August 13, 2012, Breitling Oil %26 Gas, "Contemplating the Natural Gas Market: Start with the Fracking Facts" http://www.breitlingoilandgas.com/contemplating-the-natural-gas-market-start-with-the-fracking-facts/-http://www.breitlingoilandgas.com/contemplating-the-natural-gas-market-start-with-the-fracking-facts/, jj

Regardless, the sad truth is that the facts have done little to quiet the
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regulation will continue to contribute to the volatility of natural gas commodity prices.

Volatility jacks the transition

Spence ’12
David B. Spence, Prof. of Law, Politics %26 Regulation, University of Texas at Austin, Northwestern Law School’s Searle Center Conference, Federalism, Regulatory Lags, and Energy Production,
http://www.law.northwestern.edu/searlecenter/papers/Spence_Federalism_Energy_3-4.pdf-http://www.law.northwestern.edu/searlecenter/papers/Spence_Federalism_Energy_3-4.pdf, jj

The American energy policy landscape is undergoing a revolution.1 The production of natural
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gas production in some parts of the United States and the world.7

Thus, the plan:

The United States federal government should substantially reduce restrictions on natural gas production in the United States by ceasing enforcement of the New Source Performance Standards and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Reviews. The United States federal government should issue a moratorium on further federal restrictions on natural gas production in the United States.

Advantage 1 is leadership

Fracking de-regulation is key to sustain current trends towards increased US power. Fracking is inevitable globally but US leadership ensures it is developed in a safe manner

Gillman ’11
Jonathan Gillman has been working in the traditional energy sector in Washington D.C. for the past several years after completing his degree in Political Science from the Johns Hopkins University, where he also completed his Masters degree recently in Government/Security Studies.
8-21-11, Policy Mic, Shale Gas: A Geopolitical Game Changer http://www.policymic.com/articles/1255/shale-gas-a-geopolitical-game-changer-http://www.policymic.com/articles/1255/shale-gas-a-geopolitical-game-changer, jj

Now that shale gas is being exploited at an ever-rising level, not
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than to watch nations with no concern for environmental responsibility lead the charge.

Domestic gas restores American bargaining power

Nye ’12
Joseph S. Nye, a former U.S. assistant secretary of defense, is a professor at Harvard University and the author of "The Future of Power." Korea Times, July 22, 2012, Energy independence in interdependent world, lexis, jj

At the same time, America’s bargaining position in world politics should be enhanced.
AND
alter the power relations involved in energy interdependence. Nixon got that right.

That solidifies hegemony

Moravcsik ’09
Andrew Maitland Moravcsik is a Professor of Politics and director of the European Union Program at Princeton University.
2009, The Asrudian Center – International Politics, IR Theory, Economics, Philosophy, Robert Keohane: Political Theorist http://asrudiancenter.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/robert-keohane-political-theorist/-http://asrudiancenter.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/robert-keohane-political-theorist/, jj

Power and Interdependence seeks to develop positive theories to explain state behavior under such conditions
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derives bargaining power from the same basic source as state preferences.~[22~]

Heg solves great power war and global stability—-it’s sustainable

Kagan, 12 ~[1/17/2012, "Not Fade Away: Against the Myth of American Decline", Robert, yeah that dude, Senior Fellow, aspx, aspx, http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2012/0117_us_power_kagan.aspx-http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2012/0117_us_power_kagan.aspx~] 

Is the United States in decline, as so many seem to believe these days
AND
both to Americans and to the nature of the world they live in. 

Advantage 2 is economy

Double dip recession coming now

IBT ’12
8-8, Double Dip Recession Looms Large http://www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/371450/20120808/double-dip-recession-economy-america-frank-islam.htm-http://www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/371450/20120808/double-dip-recession-economy-america-frank-islam.htm, jj

A less-than-stellar recovery of the U.S. economy,
AND
economy more vibrant. Otherwise, the global economy will be in jeopardy.

Natural gas solves the economy, two internal links:

First —- production key to jumpstart the recovery

Baily %26 Verleger ’12
Martin Neil Baily, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies , Philip K. Verleger Jr., Peterson Institute for International Economics, Brookings, June 27, 2012, Could Cheap Gas Save the Economy? http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2012/06/27-cheap-gas-baily-http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2012/06/27-cheap-gas-baily, jj

Something is badly needed to get the economy moving again and avoid another slowdown.
AND
gas windfall is very good news. Let’s make the most of it.

Second —- price spikes will hurt consumers and cause recession

LAMMEY 7 ~[Alan, Energy Market Analyst @ Energy Intelligence Group, "High Oil, Gas Prices that Cause Recession Often Crushed in Turn" Natural Gas Week, April 2 — LEXIS~]
Alarm bells are going off everywhere regarding the state of the economy, from the
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but now we just have to add the recession element to the equation." 

US decline causes global wars
Judis, Carnegie Endowment, 2011, The New Republic, August 8, ~[John~], p. http://www.npr.org/2011/08/08/139080654/new-republic-a-lesson-from-the-great-depression-http://www.npr.org/2011/08/08/139080654/new-republic-a-lesson-from-the-great-depression
The first consideration has to do with the sheer gravity of the situation. What
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ruckus that Tea Party and Republican opposition could create over the next year.

Best studies prove growth solves conflict

Jedidiah Royal 10, Director of Cooperative Threat Reduction at the U.S. Department of Defense, "Economic Integration, Economic Signalling And The Problem Of Economic Crises", in Economics of War and Peace: Economic, Legal and Political Perspectives, ed. Goldsmith and Brauer, p. 213-215

Second, on a dyadic level. Copeland’s (1996. 2000) theory of
AND
popularity, are statistically linked to an increase in the use of force.

Observation 2 is solvency

Removing the EPA and Interior Department regulations alleviates confusion and restores certainty
Russell ’12
Barry Russell, President, Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), National Journal, 1-17-12, What’s Ahead for Natural Gas? http://energy.nationaljournal.com/2012/01/whats-ahead-for-natural-gas.php?mrefid=site_search, jj

Furthermore, as President Obama touts the benefits of natural gas, his administration has
AND
responsible regulation of hydraulic fracturing, natural gas will certainly power America’s future.

A moratorium is key to certainty

Loris ’11
Nicolas D. Loris is a Policy Analyst in the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation. 9-8-11, Heritage, Energy Exploration Would Create Jobs and Raise Revenue Without Raising Taxes http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/09/energy-exploration-would-create-jobs-and-raise-revenue-without-raising-taxes-http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/09/energy-exploration-would-create-jobs-and-raise-revenue-without-raising-taxes, jj

Place a freeze on new environmental regulations. Stressing the need for regulatory certainty,
AND
, but given the fiscal situation, this is a no-brainer. 

Certainty key to development of shale gas
Baker Institute ’11 (James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy of Rice University, October, Shale Gas and U.S. National Security, online, jj)

To tap this benefit, it will be essential for the United States to promote
AND
supplies and to the long-term national interests of the United States.

Federal de-regulation won’t cause a race to the bottom. States are best equipped to regulate
Willie ’12
Matt Willie, J.D. candidate, April 2012, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, Brigham Young University Law Review, 2011 B.Y.U.L. Rev. 1743, Hydraulic Fracturing and "Spotty" Regulation: Why the Federal Government Should Let States Control Unconventional Onshore Drilling, Lexis, jj

B. Federal v. State: Why "Spotty" Regulation is Better Regulation

 The push for more federal control of hydraulic fracturing seems at least partly motivated
AND
States has been "spotty" n199 may actually be a good thing.

1. Regional differences
   In many respects, the more local and specialized the regulation, the better.
   AND
   road national standard could send the message that stricter requirements are unnecessary. n224
   2. Federal regulatory failures
   Obviously, only a shortsighted system would fail to account for at least some regional
   AND
   -centric system that has worked with relatively few problems for six decades.
   C. Financial Costs of Federal Regulation
   Even if fracking regulators were somehow immune from the failures that have plagued other agencies
   AND
   along to consumers, compounding government waste with higher prices at the pump.
   V. Conclusion
   The tremendous economic impact of hydraulic fracturing should not be understated. As the need
   AND
   little to gain, the costs of additional federal controls are simply unjustifiable.

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge: 

1. Our framework is plan focus – we get to weigh the 1AC – it’s key to clash and fairness and productive debate

And, no prior questions -~-- elevating ontological and philosophical concerns fails and trades off with pragmatic policy solutions

Jenkins ‘11

Willis Jenkins, Margaret A. Farley Assistant Professor of Social Ethics, Professor Jenkins teaches environmental ethics, global ethics, and Christian social thought. He is author of Ecologies of Grace: Environmental Ethics and Christian Theology, which won a 2009 Templeton Award for Theological Promise, and Sustainability, Social Justice, and Christian Ethics (Georgetown, in press). He is editor of The Spirit of Sustainability (2009) and coeditor of Bonhoeffer and King: Their Legacies and Import for Christian Social Thought (2010). He has written recent journal articles on ethics in the environmental sciences, on homelessness and urban theory, and on the field of religion and ecology.

Ethics and the Environment, ENVIRONMENTAL PRAGMATISM, ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT, AND CULTURAL REFORM, Volume 16, Number 1, Spring 2011, pp.

51-74 (Article) PROJECT MUSE, jj

Pragmatism: Making Ethics Practical

Pragmatists often introduce their strategy of practical reason with an opening complaint that cosmological strategies

AND

a variety of people” to adopt environmental solutions (2003, 241).

2. Perm – do the plan and all non-competitive parts of the alternative. Solves best – combining the alt with dominant ideology solves best.

Giroux, Prof of Comm @ McMaster, 2004 p. 142-143 (Henry, The Terror of Neoliberalism)

There is a lot of talk among academics in the and elsewhere about

AND

Sabin observes, “an isolation from society and vows of political chastity.”

3. Prefer the aff’s incrementalism to the alt’s inaction -~-- refusal to embrace bridge fuels like the aff guarantees environmental collapse

Charles K. Ebinger, Director, Energy Security Initiative Govinda Avasarala, Research Assistant, Foreign Policy, Energy Security Initiative The Brookings Institution 4-22-10, Environmental Pragmatism http:~/~/www.brookings.edu/opinions/2010/0422_environmental_pragmatism_aspx, jj

Finally, people need to embrace pragmatism. Though it is not ideal and rarely

AND

we can do a far more effective job of getting the ball rolling.

4. Alt fails – Individual rejection fails – political reform is key.

Giroux, Prof of Comm @ McMaster, 2004 p. 153 (Henry, The Terror of Neoliberalism)

Refusing to separate learning from social change, he constantly insisted that we fail theory

AND

on multiple fronts against the rising forces of authoritarianism both home and abroad.

5. perm – do both

6. Neoliberalism is self-correcting and sustainable – war and environmental destruction are not profitable and innovation solves their impacts

Kaletsky, ’11 (Anatole, editor-at-large of The Times of London, where he writes weekly columns on economics, politics, and international relationsand on the governing board of the New York-based Institute for New Economic

Theory (INET), a nonprofit created after the 2007-2009 crisis to promote and finance academic research in economics, Capitalism 4.0: The Birth of a New Economy in the Aftermath of Crisis, p. 19-21, bgm)

Democratic capitalism is a system built for survival. It has adapted successfully to shocks

AND

of the proverbially optimistic Mr. Micawber: "Something will turn up."

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge: 

Won’t pass and no impact

Swanson 10/24 Ian, The Hill, "Fiscal cliff approaches and concerns mount", 2012, thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/economy/263699-cliff-approaches-and-concerns-mount

Yet two weeks before a presidential election that is razor-close, there is

AND

collapse,” he says, though the damage will build up over time.

Obama has no PC for passage

Herb and Wasson 10/23 Jeremy Herb and Erik Wasson, writers for the Hill, “GOP: Obama's sequester remark during debate could reshape fiscal cliff talks”, October 23, 2012, http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/budget-appropriations/263523-obama-sequester-remark-could-reshape-fiscal-cliff-negotiations

President Obama’s vow at Monday’s debate that the sequestration cuts “will not happen”

AND

were immediately trying to walk it back,” said one GOP House aide.

Obama not pushing

POLITICO 10-18 http:~/~/www.politico.com/politicopulse/1012/politicopulse854.html?hp=l6_html?hp=l6_b4, jj

FISCAL CLIFF? WHAT, ME WORRY? — So, you may have heard

AND

, though, were braced to prepare for a busy November and December.

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
Non-unique:

A) Ohio

Reuters, 10/13/12 (Sam Youngman, “Romney closing gap in Ohio as poll numbers, crowds rise,” http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/13/us-usa-campaign-idUSBRE89B0ZI20121013)

 (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is recovering ground in the

AND

and bigger crowds fighting for a bright future," he said on Saturday.

B) Independents

Jordan 10/19/12 (Josh, is a small-business market-research consultant, “Obama’s Independent Problem,” http:~/~/www.nationalreview.com/corner/330966/com/corner/330966/obama-s-independent-problem-josh-jordan)

For all of the talk this year about party-ID breakdowns in polling (

AND

Romney), it is going to be almost impossible for Obama to win.

C) Early voting

The Week, 10/15/12 (“Early voting: Obama's secret weapon?,” http://theweek.com/article/index/234831/early-voting-obamas-secret-weapon)

Election day is still more than three weeks away, but

AND

D) Obama is pro-fracking now

Loris ‘12

Nicolas, 1-32, Heritage, The Fracking Truth on Government’s Role in Natural Gas Production http:~/~/blog.heritage.org/2012/01/31/the-fracking-truth-on-governments-role-in-natural-gas-production/http://blog.heritage.org/2012/01/31/the-fracking-truth-on-governments-role-in-natural-gas-production/, jj

President Obama has been on a kick to promote natural gas production. He said

AND

support is critical in helping businesses get new energy ideas off the ground.”

Plan is key to Obama

A) Swings blue collar voters -~-- they’re key

Mead ‘12

Walter Russell Mead, Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, 6-6, the American Interest, Green Politics Hurting Obama in Swing States http:~/~/blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2012/06/06/green-politics-hurting-obama-in-swing-states/http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2012/06/06/green-politics-hurting-obama-in-swing-states/, jj

Since the beginning of the recession, America’s “brown jobs” revolution has been

AND

of this issue. It may come back to bite him come November.

B) Swings Ohio and PA which are key

Voters there care more about economic benefits than environmental costs

Plan means Romney can’t attack Obama’s regs as being “job killers”

O’Neill ‘12

Lauren O'Neil, Washington, Natural Gas Week, May 28, 2012, Shale Gas Policy Could Factor in Ohio, Pennsylvania Swing Votes, Lexis, jj

The positions of the US presidential candidates on federal regulation of shale gas may now

AND

a multibillion-dollar ethane cracker in Pennsylvania ( NGW Mar.19'12 ).

Russian energy manipulation enables global anti-American expansionism

Cohen ‘07

Ariel Cohen, Ph.D., Senior Research Fellow in Russian and Eurasian Studies and International Energy Security in the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation, “Europe's Strategic Dependence on Russian Energy”, 11-5-07, http://www.heritage.org/Research/Europe/bg2083.cfm

From the American perspective, growing Euro­pean dependence on energy from and infrastructure

AND

supply and siding with the U.S. on some key issues.

That causes global nuclear war

Blank 9 – Dr. Stephen Blank , Research Professor of National Security Affairs at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College, March 2009, “Russia And Arms Control: Are There Opportunities For The Obama Administration?,” online: http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/pub908.pdf

Proliferators or nuclear states like China and Russia can then deter regional or intercontinental attacks

AND

perhaps make wars of aggression on their neighbors or their own people.172

Romney won’t hurt relations -~-- too resilient

Nikolas K. Gvosdev is the former editor of the National Interest, and a frequent foreign policy commentator in both the print and broadcast media. He is currently on the faculty of the U.S. Naval War College. The views expressed are his own and do not reflect those of the Navy or the U.S. government, 3-30-12, World Politics Review, The Realist Prism: Global Leaders Left Guessing Who the 'Real' U.S. President Will Be in 2013, http:~/~/www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/11789/com/articles/11789/the-realist-prism-global-leaders-left-guessing-who-the-real-u-s-president-will-be-in-2013, jj

The dilemma faced by Putin, and many other world leaders, is to decide

AND

personal connection with Putin after the Ljubljana summit in the summer of 2001.

Relations inevitable – desire for prestige

Shoumikhin et. al. 2009 (Andrei Shoumikhin, Ph.D., is Senior Analyst at the National Institute for Public Policy. Baker Spring is F. M. Kirby Research Fellow in National Security Policy in the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, a division of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies, at The Heritage Foundation.” Strategic Nuclear Arms Control for the Protect and Defend Strategy,” 5-4, http:~/~/www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/cfm)

Strategic relations between the United States and the Russian Federation are of paramount impor­tance for

AND

readiness to abandon treaty obligations that fail to serve Russian org/Research/Reports/2009/05/Strategic-Nuclear-Arms-Control-for-the-Protect-and-Defend-Strategy#_ftn21

US-Russia relations don’t solve global problems

Ostapenko ‘09 (E., Trend Daily News, Turkish Weekly, “Normalization In U.s.-russian Relations Not To Change Political Situation In World: Analyst At French Studies Institute” 7-8, http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/83734/-normalization-in-u-s-russian-relations-not-to-change-political-situation-in-world-analyst-at-french-studies-institute-.html)

Normalization of relations between the United States and Russia will AND

of population, unlike European countries, including Russia.

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge: 

1) We meet:

The plan removes restrictions on natural production

Washington Times 12 4-23, EDITORIAL: More fracking red tape http:~/~/www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/23/more-fracking-red-tape/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/23/more-fracking-red-tape/, jj

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday finalized 588 pages of new restrictions

AND

up with Obama’s law will have a chance to repeal it in November.

2) Counter-interpretation:

“Restrictions” includes “regulations” – this evidence is energy specific

Davies 30 (Major George, “CLAUSE 1.—(Scheme regulating production, supply and sale of coal.),” February, vol 235 cc2453-558, http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1930/feb/27/clause-1-scheme-regulating-production)

Major GEORGE DAVIES The hon. Member says he has heard no reason advanced for

AND

has been uncontrolled, production thrown on markets not able to receive it.

“On” means directly targeted

World English Dictionary 2009 (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/on?s=t)

— prep 1. in contact or connection with the surface of; at the

AND

performed upon or relayed through the medium of: what's on the television?

Production means drilling

GDF SUEZ, no date global gas and lng division (GDS SUEZ, Global Gas %26 LNG Division, "Exploration and production of natural gas," http:~/~/www.gdfsuez.com/en/businesses/gas/natural-gas-prospection-production/-http:~/~/www.gdfsuez.com/en/businesses/gas/natural-gas-prospection-production/http://www.gdfsuez.com/en/businesses/gas/natural-gas-prospection-production/-http:/www.gdfsuez.com/en/businesses/gas/natural-gas-prospection-production/)

Exploration is the first stage of the gas chain. At the core of this

AND

) from the authorities of the countries in which those fields are located.

3) Standards:

A) Education -~-- they limit out fracking affs -~-- the main controversy isn’t leasing or incentives, its EPA restrictions on the technique itself -~-- it’s a core energy issue

The Topic Paper 12

Resolved: The College Debate Community Should Debate Energy Topic Proposal Paper for the 2012-2013 CEDA Topic Controversy Ballot Submitted by: Ana Nikolic Policy Resolution Group at Bracewell and Giuliani Dylan Quigley Dartmouth University With special thanks to two true experts in the subject matter: Scott Segal Founding Partner Policy Resolution Group at Bracewell and Giuliani Josh Zive Senior Counsel Policy Resolution Group at Bracewell and Giuliani

Online

Natural gas development has brought about one of the most significant breakthroughs in the history

AND

trying to balance increased calls for regulation of the industry from environmental advocates.

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge: 

Low gas prices are key to the chemical industry

Brady 12 – Jeff Brady, writer for NPR, February 13, 2012, "Natural Gas Boom Energizing The Chemical Industry" ~www.npr.org/2012/02/13/146803953/natural-gas-boom-energizing-the-chemical-industry-http://www.npr.org/2012/02/13/146803953/natural-gas-boom-energizing-the-chemical-industry

Just outside of West Virginia~’s capital city, Charleston, on the banks

AND

NOVA was clearly in for much of the last decade," Woelfel says.

A competitive chemical industry is key to sustainability, and solves extinction

ICCA 2 – ICCA (International Council of Chemical Associations), June 20, 2002, "SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY," online: http://www.cefic.be/position/icca/pp_ic010.htm

Sustainability in economic terms means the efficient management of scarce resources as well as a

AND

keeping up international competitiveness as a pre-requisite of sustainable job creation.