September 4, 2018 archive

Pipeline shortage in the Permian

The shortage of pipelines to move crude oil out of the Permian Basin in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico is making more and more headlines. Oil producers are turning to rail and trucks to move their product to the Gulf Coast refineries. Read how the San Antonio Express-News reported on the challenge.

IG report says Pruitt was wrong for adding extra bodyguards

Scott Pruitt’s claims of a need for additional protection while he was Administrator of the Environmental Protection agency were not justified according to a report released by the EPA’s Inspector General on Tuesday. The IG issued the report entitled “EPA Asserts Statutory Law Enforcement Authority to Protect its Administrator but Lacks Procedures to Assess Threats …

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Corporation Commission to meet Wednesday

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission’s regular meeting on Wednesday will include issues concerning ATT as well as OGE. The agenda for the 9:30 a.m. meeting includes an application of ATT seeking commission approval of an amendment to the Interconnection Agreement of ATT Oklahoma and Cebridge Telecom OK, LLC. Another request by ATT Oklahoma also applies to …

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Texas DEQ tardy over Hurricane Harvey pollution incidents

While tropical storm Gordon threatens to become a hurricane along the Gulf Coast, residents in Texas are learning their state has just started enforcement against over pollution from last years’s Hurricane Harvey. Reports indicate a handful of companies are targeted for causing some of the biggest air and water pollution incidents during and after the storm. …

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Economies in Oklahoma and 8 Midwestern states are ‘surging’

The way Creighton University economist Dr. Ernie Goss puts it, the economy in the Midwest and Plains states is “surging.” He’s out with his monthly survey of supply managers for August. The Mid-America Business Conditions Index, which covers Oklahoma and 8 other states jumped to 61.1 for the month. That’s up from the 57.0 recorded …

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Group wants more security of natural gas pipelines

Congress is being asked to provide more security for the nation’s natural gas pipelines, protecting them from physical and cyber attacks. Lobbyists for the U.S. manufacturing and chemical companies made the request in a letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Oklahoma Rep. Markwayne Mullin sits …

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Army Corps still says Dakota Access pipeline poses no significant environmental threats

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers still says the Dakota Access oil pipeline, the one that drew thousands of protesting Native Americans and environmentalists in North Dakota poses no significant environmental threats. The claim came after the Corps announced completion of another year of more studies into the environmental impact of the $3.8 billion, four-state …

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Judge dismisses most of legislator’s lawsuit against Texas political consultant

An Oklahoma City federal judge has dismissed a majority of claims made in the lawsuit filed by Moore Rep. Mark McBride against an Austin, Texas political consultant. U.S. District Judge David Russell ruled recently in support of George C. Shipley, Shipley and Associates, Inc. and John Does who sought to have McBride’s lawsuit dismissed. The …

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FCC auction expands rural broadband service to 71,000 Oklahoma homes and businesses

The Federal Communications Commission says nearly 71,000 Oklahoma homes and businesses will gain access to high-speed Internet service for the first time following the FCC’s Connect America Fund Phase II auction. The results were released this week showing the auction allocated $113,599,114 in support to be distributed over the next decade to expand rural broadband …

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