Breaking News: Governor Corbett Announces Departure of DEP Secretary Mike Krancer | Marketwatch| March 22, 2013
Harrisburg – Governor Tom Corbett today announced that Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Krancer will step down April 15 to return home to Montgomery County to practice law.
Krancer is returning to his old law firm Blank Rome LLP. Blank Rome LLP is listed as a member of the Marcellus Shale Coalition. With regards to natural gas, Blank Rome describes itself as:
The attorneys and professionals of Blank Rome LLP and Blank Rome Government Relations LLC are uniquely positioned to counsel and represent shale oil and gas exploration, production, and mid-stream companies regarding all of their business needs. With offices in Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, DC, Blank Rome is strategically located to meet the needs of shale developers and operators in courtrooms, boardrooms, and before state and federal government.
As StateImpact recently reported,Blank Rome has given Governor Corbett and his wife Susan over $15,000 in gifts since 2007.The firm has a lobbying arm and a Shale Oil and Gas Development team of lawyers that represent major oil and gas companies fighting environmental regulations.
Temporarily filling in the for departing Krancer will be E. Christopher Abruzzo, deputy chief of staff for Governor Tom Corbett. Abruzzo, who works closely with Krancer and the DEP staff in his position as deputy chief of staff, will hold both positions until Corbett names Krancer’s successor. There is currently no speculation who will be the next drill baby in charge of DEP.
Nothing in the news stories to indicate why Krancer is choosing to leave now.
Scuttlebutt speculation includes:
- Jumping ship before Corbett goes down in 2014 election
- Fallout from the Range Resource-Hallowich records being unsealed
- Possible repercussions from pending DEP Audit by Auditor General DePasquale. It’s unknown at this point if the audit has even started.
- Will be working with the newly formed fluffy Center for Sustainable Shale Development
- Feces of unknown origin about to impact the rotating blades.
Whatever the reason, you can be assured Corbett’s next appointee will be one who makes sure it’s business as usual at the DEP.
©2013 by Dory Hippauf
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I agree with the speculation. My guess, it’s all of the above.
DANG! Now I gotta definitely do a 2nd edition (or a revised edition) to FRACKING PENNSYLVANIA. Dory’s reasons why Krancer is leaving are as good a guess as any, and all are probably part of it. I also suspect there’s a state Sup. Ct. opening and good ole buddy Corbett will consider good ole buddy Krancer. But, as a lawyer with connections to the energy people, Krancer probably will make many times more than any state official.
Definitely a shocker to read first thing this morning! Thanks for getting this out so quickly, Dory.
Yep, all of the above is also my choice BUT I do hope and lean toward #2. With him back in his lawyer/lobbyist chair, I DO NOT want to see that horrible evil man with no morals lobbying against us in Annapolis…..EVER!!!
I love the “bye Bye Now” bug!!!
Isn’t Montgomery County a no drill zone????????? I wonder why. Where is Corbutt’s home town?
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