May 11, 2016 archive

EPA Sued for Not Regulating Oil and Gas Wastewater

The Environmental Protection Agency finds itself being sued by environmental advocacy group, largely because of earthquakes in Oklahoma and the handling of wastewater through injection wells. The groups recently filed suit claiming the EPA has not adequately regulated the disposal of waste from oil and gas drilling. The lead group filing the suit was the …

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Wyoming Family Wins Pond Fight With EPA

Then there’s the Wyoming family that the Environmental Protection Agency threatened to fine more than $187,000 a day because it wanted to build a pond on their property in 2013. So Andy Johnson of Fort Bridger, Wyoming decided to fight and now he’s won. Republican U.S. Sen. John Barrasso announced the Johnsons will be able …

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Worker Killed in Accident at Beaumont Refinery

Details have yet to be released but a work-place death occurred early Wednesday at the ExxonMobil plant in Beaumont, Texas. The company said it happened around 12:30 a.m.. “We regret that a contractor was fatally injured in an incident at a unit under maintenance at the Beaumont refinery,” explained Exxon in a statement. “We have …

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France Considers Total Ban on U.S. Shale Gas from Fracking

France is considering a total ban of U.S. shale gas because of hydraulic fracking, according to a report this week by Reuters. The wire service quoted French Energy Minister Segolene Royal who has started an investigation to determine any legal way for the ban since France has banned shale gas exploration using hydraulic fracturing. She …

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40th anniversary of Houston’s Deadly Anhydrous Ammonia Crash Observed

Wednesday was the 40th anniversary of a deadly anhydrous ammonia spill that left seven dead and nearly 200 injured in Houston, Texas. It happened May 11, 1976 when an 18-wheeler carrying 7,000 gallons of the ammonia fell from a freeway ramp, according to the Houston Chronicle. The fumes proved deadly for those too close to …

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Kansas Joins Oklahoma in Suspending Work Toward Challenged EPA Rules

With his signature on a bill, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has suspended his state’s work on a plan to comply with the controversial efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce carbon emissions using the Clean Power Plan. The law signed by Brownback suspends the state’s work and makes Kansas the third state to take such …

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Pruitt Sides with TransCanada in Arguing President Unlawfully Blocked Keystone XL Pipeline

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has been joined by attorneys general from five other states in supporting the lawsuit filed by TransCanada challenging President Obama’s blocking of construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas joined Oklahoma in filing the Amicus Brief. It argues the President does not have the …

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Canadian City Saved from Wildfire——Oil Sand Production Cut 1 Million Barrels a Day

    Government leaders in Canada declare they have saved most of the city of Fort McMurray from the devastating wildfire that destroyed hundreds of homes in Canada’s oil sands city. An estimated 2,400 homes were destroyed but according to the Associated Press, another 25,000 others were saved including the city’s hospital, municipal buildings and …

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Newfield Exploration Shutting Down Tulsa Offices

Short and to the point—-Newfield Exploration’s announcement this week that 50 of its employees in Oklahoma would be laid off and nearly 150 others would be transferred from the Tulsa offices back to the firm’s headquarters in Houston, Texas. Blame the oil and gas downturn and Newfield’s loss of millions in the first quarter of …

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