April 2018 archive

Denver Federal Appeals Court Rules Against Two Osage County Land Owners

The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver has ruled against two northeast Oklahoma residents in their legal fight against oil and gas operations in Osage County. The federal appeals court upheld a lower court judge’s ruling to dismiss the suit filed by Martha Donelson and John Friend. The two had originally filed suit …

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Unwanted Headlines and News Coverage for Pruitt

How much national news coverage is Scott Pruitt getting these days over things at the EPA?  Obviously, far more than he wants and ever expected to get. Just consider how Politico’s Morning Energy Report covered things last Friday: WHAT COMES NEXT? EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt fared seemingly well Thursday, at least comparatively – appearing in no …

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Informational Meeting Set for Eagle Industries Superfund Site in Midwest City

The State Department of Environmental Quality plans to hold an informational meeting Tuesday evening to discuss the Eagle Industries Superfund Site in Midwest City. The event will be held from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Nick Harroz Midwest City Community center at 200 North Midwest Boulevard. Representatives from the DEQ and the Environmental …

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Gasoline Prices Slip in Oklahoma

Oklahoma gasoline prices dropped 4 cents a gallon over the past week while nationally, the average remained at $2.66 a gallon. AAA Oklahoma reports the statewide average is at $2.38 compared to the $2.42 reported one week ago. One year ago, motorists in the state paid an average $2.16 a gallon. But analysts expect prices …

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Circling the Wagons for Scott Pruitt

The President says he’s standing by Scott Pruitt. So do Oklahoma U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe and James Lankford. And while Pruitt faces seemingly scandal after scandal over his spending at EPA, allies are taking no chances. At least that’s how E and E is reporting the controversies involving the former Oklahoma Attorney General. The environmental …

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2017 Oilfield Deaths in Oklahoma Low Compared to Other Occupations

  While six oilfield workers have died in accidents already in 2018, the count of fatal oilfield deaths in Oklahoma in 2017 was two.  However, a review of federal records shows there are far more dangerous occupations in Oklahoma including the classroom. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is probing the gas well explosion that …

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Keystone Pipeline Spill Nearly Twice as Large as Initially Reported

Months after a Keystone Pipeline oil spill was cleaned up in South dakota, the company admits the spill was nearly twice as large as initially reported. The spill happened in November 2017 near Amherst in Marshall County and Transcanada, the owner of the line that carries oil to Oklahoma and Texas reported the spill involved …

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Rig Counts Jump in Oklahoma and Across the U.S.

Oil and gas rig counts soared in the past week in Oklahoma and the U.S. Oklahoma’s count grew by 5 to reach 126 active rigs. The national count, according to Baker Hughes Co. grew by 10 to hit 1,003 rigs. The growth included 11 more oil rigs to make a total of 808 while the …

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Second Lawsuit Filed Over Oklahoma’s Refusal to Release Tar Creek Audit

Already in the middle of a legal battle over Oklahoma’s failure to release public documents about the Tar Creek Superfund site, the Washington, D.C.-based Campaign for Accountability has gone to federal court against the EPA to force it to release the records. The suit stems from the state’s refusal, first by former Attorney General Scott …

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Senator Lankford Backs Pruitt During his Growing Scandals

Count U.S. Sen. James Lankford as a supporter of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt who faces a barrage of criticism and calls for firing or resignation in the midst of growing scandals about travel expenses, pay raises for aides and who he rented a condo from in Washington, D.C. As OK Energy Today reported earlier, Sen. …

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