The Associated Press reported Thursday the Center for Sustainable Shale Development received its first application to be certified under the sustainability guidelines of the Center.

Certification is based on the Center's 15 initial performance standards that were developed to reflect leading industry practices.  Companies can seek certifications in sustainable air, climate, water and waste guidelines. (See January 27, 2014 PA Environment Digest.)

Auditors will evaluate the applicant's operations to the standards that are specific to the certification a company chooses.  Evaluations are expected to take three to six months, with a summary of a completed audit report made accessible on CSSD's website.

The review of this initial application is scheduled for early June by the Center’s independent auditor Bureau Vertas, a French global testing and inspection firm.

CSSD's founding participants include: Chevron; Clean Air Task Force; CONSOL Energy; Environmental Defense Fund;  EQT Corporation; Group Against Smog and Pollution; Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future; Pennsylvania Environmental Council; and Shell.

Click Here to read the entire AP article.  For more information, visit the Center for Sustainable Shale Development website.

NewsClips:

Sustainable Shale Center Accepts First Application

Heinz Endowments Cuts Funding Ties To Sustainable Shale Group

Heinz Endowments Could Be Cutting Ties With Sustainable Shale Group

5/19/2014