December 2016 archive

No Doubt About North Dakota’s Top Story in 2016—–Oil Pipeline Protests

No doubt about it. The top story in 2016 in North Dakota dealt with oil—-specifically the Dakota Access Pipeline and the protest by Native Americans from the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Their protest that started last spring attracted the attention of Hollywood celebrities and supporters from Oklahoma and numerous other states. The $3.8 billion pipeline …

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Oil Carrier Reaches Safety Inspection Agreement with Feds

Union Pacific Railway, hit by millions in fines and penalties from the Federal Railroad Administration for hundreds of potential safety violations has agreed to more thorough inspections and maintenance improvements following a fiery oil train derailment in Oregon. The Associated Press reports the agreement was a direct result of the early June derailment of 16 tank …

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Cole Predicts Obama’s “Overreach” will be Undone by Trump

For nearly 8 years, President Obama and his Environmental Protection Agency have been the target of lawsuit after lawsuit as Oklahoma and other states accused the EPA over “overreach” with excessive rules and regulations. Now Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole is predicting many of those environmental rules and regulations will likely be wiped out within months …

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Rep. Osborn on GRDA Sale Bill——It’s Just to Open Discussions

It’s just a move to begin discussions of a possible sale. It’s how Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Mustang, describes the bill she and Sen. Greg Treat, R-Edmond have introduced in the legislature targeting the Grand River Dam Authority. While some suggest it’s meant to sell the GRDA, Osborn told OK Energy Today it merely directs the …

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Rick Muncrief Elected Chairman of WPX Energy Effective January 1

Richard E. “Rick” Muncrief was unanimously elected to WPX Energy’s board of directors as it next chairman effective January 1, 2017, according to a recent press release. Muncrief has served as WPX’s president and chief executive officer since May of 2014. During his tenure with the Tulsa-based company, Muncrief has led a comprehensive transformation at WPX including more …

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Newest Environmental Concern About Pruitt——-New Methane Emissions Rules

Another concern of environmentalists over Donald Trump’s nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to take over at the Environmental Protection Agency is what might happen to the EPA’s aggressive steps of controlling and regulating methane emissions in the U.S. They believe once Pruitt becomes the new Administrator of the EPA, he will target those …

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Legislators Make Another Attempt at Selling GRDA

Another move is being made in the state legislature to sell the Grand River Dam Authority. The charge is led by Sen. Greg Treat, R-Edmond and Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Mustang. And some believe because of the committee positions held by Treat and Osborn, such a sale might stand a chance of winning legislative approval. Senator …

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Record Year for Government Fines Against Nation’s Rail Carriers

  The year has proven to be one with the most civil penalties ever leveled in the 50-year history of the Federal Railroad Administration, breaking even last year’s record-breaking rate. The agency says it expects to collect 79 percent of the $15.75 million in  civil penalties it issued to railroads, hazardous materials shippers and others …

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Rep. Russell Nears End of 1st Term in U.S. House

  As he nears the end of his freshman term in the U.S. House, U.S. 5th District Rep. Steve Russell is expressing concerns about the state of things in this nation, but at the same time optimistic about the reforms he’s bringing about through his Waste Watch reports on government spending. Interviewed recently by C-Span’s …

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More Quakes Rattle Northern Oklahoma

    More earthquakes have been recorded in northern Oklahoma. The strongest in the past few days was 3.5 magnitude and happened last Friday night near Pawnee. The U.S. Geological Survey says it happened at 10:08 p.m., just 9 hours after an earlier 3.5 magnitude quake was recorded near Mooreland. The small northern city of …

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