EPA has given final approval to an Arkansas regional haze reduction plan that rolls back Obama-era requirements for sulfur dioxide scrubbers on two high-polluting power plants. “States are best suited to run their clean-air programs, and Arkansas’ clean air plan gives our state partner the flexibility needed to improve its air quality,” EPA Region 6 …
September 2019 archive
Reporters challenge Texas drone law
Two journalism groups and a reporter have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Texas laws that restrict what can be legally photographed by drones. The suit was filed in Austin and argues the 2013 law puts improper limits on news gathering and is a violation of the First Amendment by making it a crime to capture …
US rig count continues downward spiral
Rig counts continued their slow decline in most oil and gas producing states across the country in the past week. While the nation’s count dropped by 8 to 860, Oklahoma’s count remained unchanged at 66 rigs. The national count included a drop of 6 working oil rigs to 713 while the number of gas rigs …
Wisconsin wants to copy Oklahoma in creating law against trespassers damaging oil and gas pipelines
Oklahoma’s already done it and now Wisconsin legislators are pushing a bill to make it a felony to trespass or damage oil and gas pipelines in the state. Opponents argue it would violate free speech rights and the movement comes in the wake of a Federal judge who temporarily suspended a similar law in South …
Bison announces 15-year water disposal agreement in the STACK
Oklahoma City’s Bison company announced it has secure a 15-year water gathering and disposal agreement with Houston’s Paloma Operating Co. The agreement will put Bison in charge of disposing of the water needs covering 325,000 acres in the STACK—Blaine, Canadian and Kingfisher counties. “Our customer-focus, best-in-class operations, existing asset footprint and our overall dependability distinguished …
Unrest amidst Marathon Petroleum shareholders
Two shareholders in Marathon Petroleum Corporation, a Houston firm are voicing concerns about the company’s financial operations. Together, Paul Foster and Jeff Stevens of Scottsdale, Arizona hold nearly 1.7% of the outstanding common stock in the company and released a letter sent to Marathon’s Board of Directors. In it, they complained about the company’s …
Nuclear storage site in New Mexico is close at hand
A New Jersey-based company is a step closer to building a multi-billion dollar facility in eastern New Mexico to temporarily store spent nuclear fuel from commercial reactors around the U.S. Holtec International announced it has reached a labor agreement with the New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council to create a framework for cooperation between …
New wind farm dedicated in Northwest Kansas
The latest wind farm in Kansas had a grand opening near Colby where the $650 million Solomon Forks Wind Project is located and another wind project will be constructed. ENGIE North America representatives as well as local business leaders and government officials were on hand for for the opening and to celebrate the East …
Import-export growth forces Houston port to acquire more cranes
The increase in crude oil and produced gas and other exports and imports has forced the Port of Houston Authority to acquire three new electric cranes for the Bayport Container Terminal. It is considered to be critical for the expansion project of the Houston Ship Channel through which oil and gas tankers move. The …
Boil order issued for town of Crescent
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has advised the Town of Crescent, located in Logan County, to inform users of its drinking water to use water that has been brought to a full, rolling boil for at least one minute, bottled water, or water from another acceptable source for consumption, use in food preparation, …