As the federal government shutdown stretches into another week, the effects could soon start to trickle down to state offices that oversee oil and gas operations and pollution.
State environmental quality departments may soon need to figure out new ways to pay some of their employees, whose salaries are often funded through EPA grants.
Holly George, chief financial officer with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, said it feels like gambling every time she logs on to her computer to see if she can still get to federal funds.
“It’s kind of like watching your lottery number being drawn,” George said. “You’re just hoping you see all of them available, because when they’re not, it creates a shift. Any time we have to move funds or personnel around — that’s something we don’t like to do.”
