Several key actions on Marcellus shale gas regulations were overseen by lawmakers who, according to campaign financial statements, received contributions from the industry last year.

In 2010, more than half of House members and at least 15 state senators received campaign contributions from the gas and oil industry.

Contributions made to any candidate throughout the first part of 2011 have not yet been released, but are due March 26. The records of the organization may also reflect checks written to campaigns that were not yet cashed.

In the 2010 primary report, two checks from 2008 are documented as never being cashed. One was written to Delegate Brady Paxton, D-Putnam, and the other was for Charlene Marshall, D- Monongalia.

According to political action committee reports available through the Secretary of State’s office, the Gas and Oil Political Action Committee (GOpac) donated hundreds of dollars to dozens of candidates in 2010. Natrium PAC, managed by PPG Industries, donated $500 to acting Senate President Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall and $600 to House Speaker Rick Thompson, D-Wayne.

Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries recently announced a plan to lease drilling rights on about 3,300 acres and expects to make at least $50 million over the next 30 years on the deal.

Thompson and Kessler are running for governor in the upcoming special election.

According to a story in The State Journal, Dominion Energy also plans to process natural gas and natural gas liquids at the site.

Delegate Sam Cann, D-Harrison, a former president of the Independent Oil and Gas Association and employee of Dominion Energy, appears in PAC documents as a donor in numerous small amounts, ranging from $10 to $40 and a $100 donation at a gun raffle fundraiser for GOpac. He received two $500 contributions from the group, one in March 2010, the other in October 2010.

Cann was criticized by supporters of the Marcellus shale legislation when he objected to fast-tracking the House Judiciary-amended version of the bill without first going through the House Finance Committee. The delay, some supporters argued, aided in the Marcellus regulations not making it out of the House in time.

The chair of the House Finance Committee, Delegate Harry Keith White, received about $750 in contributions in April 2010.

Critics of the lawmakers’ inaction point out the bill did not return to the House floor for a vote. The legislation would have had to pass the House, return to the Senate and potentially go into a conference committee between the two houses.

Thompson, who sets the agenda, not only received a contribution from Natrium, but also received a $500 contribution from GOpac in August 2010 and another $500 gift in April 2010.

The House Judiciary Committee, which heavily amended the original Senate bill, is chaired by Delegate Tim Miley, D-Harrison, who also received a $500 contribution from GOpac in April 2010 and another in October 2010.

While many House members received contributions from the oil and gas industry, the Senate was not ignored.

Sen. Mike Green, D-Raleigh, and chairman of the Energy, Industry and Mining committee, was sent $500 in October 2010 and $500 in April 2010. GOpac also listed a $1,000 expenditure for a “Mike Green Fundraiser” at the Summit Conference Center.

Green, who decried the inaction of the House in not passing Marcellus regulations, said Marcellus was “perhaps the most important issue” in the session and said the House failure was “shameful.” However, several members of the House and Carol Warren of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, criticized Green’s committee for “gutting” a 200-plus page bill into a bill less than half its original size and coverage.

Senate President and acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, who announced this week that a special session would not be held to deal with Marcellus regulations, said the Department of Environmental Protection has enough authority to regulate the industry. He said he would only call a special session if the House and Senate could come to an agreement first. Tomblin said any other action would be a waste of taxpayer money.

GOpac donated $500 to Tomblin in October.

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Contributions List

The following current in-office lawmakers were listed as recipients of contributions from GOpac in 2010:

Senators (15 of 32):

Bob Beach, D-Monongalia, $250

Truman Chafin, D-Mingo; $500

Mike Green, D-Raleigh; $500; $500; $1,000

Mike Hall, R-Putnam; $250

Walt Helmick, D-Pocahontas; $500; $500; $500

Evan Jenkins, D-Cabell; $250

Joe Minard, D-Harrison; $500; $500

Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha; $500; $250; $500

David Nohe, R-Wood; $500

Ron Stallings, D-Boone; $250; $250; $250

Dave Sypolt, R-Preston; $250

Earl Ray Tomblin, D-Logan; $500; $500

Gregory Tucker, D-Nicholas; $250

John Unger, D-Berkeley; $250

Erik Wells, D-Kanawha; $250

Delegates (53 of 100):

Bill Anderson, R-Wood; $100

Troy Andes, R-Putnam, $250

Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, $500; $250

Bob Ashley, R-Roane, $100

Tom Azinger, R-Wood, $250; $100

Brent Boggs, D-Braxton; $500; $250

Larry Border, R-Wood; $250; $100

Greg Butcher, D-Logan; $250; $100

Thomas Campbell, D-Greenbrier; $250; $100

Sam Cann, D-Harrison; $500; $500

Ray Canterbury, R-Greenbrier; $100; $100

Mike Caputo, D-Marion, $250; $100

Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson; $100; $250

Kevin J. Craig, D-Cabell; $250; $100

Gerald L. Crosier, D-Monroe; $100

Larry Edgell, D-Wetzel; $250

Tim Ennis, D-Brooke; $100

Allen Evans, R- Grant; $100

Michael T. Ferro, D-Marshall; $100

Ron Fragale, D-Harrison; $500; $250

John R. Frazier, D-Mercer; $100

Bill Hartman, D-Randoph; $250; $100

Daniel Hall, D-Wyoming; $250; $100

Gary Howell, R-Mineral, $100

Mark Hunt, D-Kanawha; $250; $100

Richard Iaquinta, D-Harrison; $100; $100

Steve Kominar, D-Mingo; $250; $100

Tiffany Lawrence; D-Jefferson; $100; $100; $100

Patrick Lane, R-Kanawha; $250; $100

Harold Michael, D-Hardy; $100; $100

Tim Miley, D-Harrison; $500

Ron Miller, D-Greenbrier; $150

Carol Miller, R-Cabell; $200; $100

Jim Morgan, D-Cabell; $100

Eric Nelson, R-Kanawaha; $250; $250

Dave Pethel, D-Wetzel; $250

David Perry, D-Fayette; $100; $100

Linda Goode Phillips, D-Wyoming; $100; $100

Meshea Poore, D-Kanawha; $100; $100

Doug Reynolds, D-Cabell; $250; $100

Ralp Rodighiero, D-Logan; $100; $100

William Romine, R-Tyler; $100; $100

Doug Skaff Jr., D-Kanawha; $250; $100

Peggy Donaldson Smith, D-Lewis; $100; $100

Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell; $200; $100

Josh Stowers, D-Lincoln; $250; $100

Linda Sumner, R-Raleigh; $200; $100

Randy Swartzmiller, D-Hancock; $250

Richard Thompson, D-Wayne; $500; $500

Ron Walters, R-Kanawha; $250; $100

Scott Varner, D-Marshall; $250

Harry Keith White, D-Mingo; $500; $250

Larry Williams, D-Preston; $250

— E-mail: tkuykendall@register-herald.com