October 26, 2017 archive

Brent Crude Settles Close to $60 as WTI Climbs Above $52 a Barrel

Crude oil futures climbed to new heights on Thursday, according to Bloomberg MarketWatch. December Brent crude, the global benchmark, added 86 cents, or 1.5%, to settle at $59.30 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe Exchange, marking the highest finish for a front-month contract since July 3, 2015, according to data from Dow Jones. On …

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State Senate Stuns Oil and Gas Industry—-Urges House to Raise Gross Production Taxes

In something of a surprise move, the Oklahoma Senate on Thursday approved a resolution urging the State House to raise gross production taxes on oil and gas wells as a way to resolve the state’s budget crisis. It drew an immediate rebuke from oil and gas groups. “The continued erosion of tax policy that has …

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Hacker Hits Corporation Commission Headquarters

Someone hacked into the computer system at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission this week leaving most computer services offline as of Thursday. The Commission was quick to indicate there was no compromise of sensitive data. “We detected an attack and have engaged the State CyberCommand and OMES staff to protect and restart the systems,” OMES spokeswoman …

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Sierra Club Polling Oklahomans About Pruitt’s Possible Political Future

The Sierra Club has launched a statewide poll in Oklahoma of the work being done by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and whether he’s using his position to run for the U.S. Senate or Governor in the state. “We invested in this polling to get a sense of whether people in Pruitt’s home state are concerned …

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OCC to Hear PSO Rate Hike Request

A consortium of energy consumers in the state is preparing to go before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to fight a $150 million rate hike by Public Service Company of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Industrial Energy Consumers, a group of large energy users has filed testimony in response to PSO’s 28% base rate hike request. Tom Schroedter, executive …

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Study Links Wastewater Disposal Wells to Earthquakes in Colorado and New Mexico

Oklahoma isn’t the only place where scientists are linking wastewater disposal wells to earthquakes. Researchers at the University of Colorado’s Department of Geological Sciences are making the same new claim of recent earthquakes in what is called the Raton Basin located in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. They contend the deep underground wells have …

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EPA and DEQ to Update Public About Wilcox Superfund Site in Bristow

A public meeting is planned for next month in Bristow concerning the EPA’s Superfund Site at the former Wilcox Oil Company refinery. The EPA along with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality will hold the community meeting.  Officials of both agencies will be on hand to answer questions regarding cleanup with the site was added …

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Macy’s Fined Over Hazardous Waste Violations in Oklahoma and Texas

The EPA has announced a settlement with Macy’s over violations of hazardous waste regulations and as part of the agreement, training programs will be launched in Oklahoma and Texas. Macy’s agreed to correct the violations and said it will develop a program with the capacity to train 400 retailers in the two states. It will …

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Osage County Wind Farm Fight Sees Another Challenge

The fight over a wind farm in Osage County took another step this week when the Osage Minerals Council argued the Tenth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was wrong in staying a ruling that said the wind farm operators should have obtained a mineral lease before starting construction. In a filing with the Denver Federal …

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Activist Says Starting a Riot Was Justified to Protect the Environment

An American Indian activist charged with inciting a riot during the protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline claims he will use a “necessity defense” in justifying his civil disobedience last year. Chase Iron Eyes will take his argument before a judge on Nov. 3 after pleading not guilty to inciting a riot and criminal …

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