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Legislature gets “C” from State Treasurer Ken Miller
In State Treasurer Ken Miller’s latest Oklahoma Economic Report, he graded the recently-concluded legislative session a “C,” stating the legislature ended the session with a balanced budget that avoided dreaded worst case scenarios. Writing in the report, Miller said the budget was a most difficult challenge but what the legislature came up with “leaves significant …
45 new Jobs with Quality Jobs Program Company in Tulsa
The Oklahoma Commerce Department says 45 new jobs will be created by another enrollment by a Tulsa company in the Qualify Jobs Program. The firm is Resolute Engineering LLC which provides engineering, design, project management and construction management services. State officials estimate the maximum benefits through the Quality Jobs Program will be more than $1 …
Williams and ETE Reach Agreement on One Aspect of Messy Merger
A report by Energy Law 360 indicates a settlement of sorts about joint disclosures of tax consequences has been made by the Williams Cos. of Tulsa and Dallas-based Energy transfer Equity LP in their proposed merger that’s turned into a legal fight. The energy law website indicates that attorneys for both sides told a Delaware …
Texas Lawsuit Over Regional Haze Rule Moves Ahead
A Federal circuit court in Washington, D.C. has heard appeals of Texas and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a lawsuit filed by the State challenging the EPA’s mandated regional haze plan. It’s a plan that would force Texas to clean up its coal-fired power plants that send haze drifting into Oklahoma affecting the Wichita …
California Utility Fined $24 million over Poor Record Keeping
Officials with California’s largest utility, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company are still reviewing a judge’s decision to fine the company more than $24 million for sloppy record keeping of its natural gas distribution system. The California Public Utilities Commission said an administrative judge recommended $24.3 million in fines on top of a 2014 fine …
Air Quality Advisory Council Cancels Meeting
Another cancellation of a meeting of the State’s Air Quality Advisory Council at the State Department of Environmental Quality. The June 8 meeting is now planned for October 12, 2016 in Tulsa and the location has yet to be determined. The last meeting was in January where members were scheduled to vote on amendment Excess …
A 21% Drop in Energy Employment in Oklahoma in the Past Year
As jobless rates rose in April in 50 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties, more oil and gas workers were also laid off in the past month, according to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. Classified in the Mining and Logging Sector, the number of energy workers dropped from 16,500 in March 2016 to 15,300 in April, or …
Attorneys General Refuse to Turn Over ExxonMobil Investigation Documents to Congress
As the Republicans on the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee attempt to explore whether some Democratic Attorneys General conspired with environmental activists to start a probe of ExxonMobil, they have been thwarted in efforts to obtain documents from them. Attorneys General from New Mexico, Vermont, Washington, Connecticut, Oregon, Maryland, the District of Columbia …
NGL Admits Mistakes were Made…the Company will Restate Earnings
Tulsa-based NGL Energy Partners announced this week that because of an improper accounting of royalty payments it would have to restate its earnings for the past three quarters. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company admitted it had not properly accounted for royalty payments associated with the water solutions agreement. As …
Oil Producers in Osage County Lose Lawsuit Against BIA
The oil and gas producers in Osage County who sued the Bureau of Indian Affairs for allegedly delaying applications for drilling permits had their suit thrown out of court Wednesday by Tulsa U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell. He dismissed the suit without prejudice and in essence, agreed with the BIA that the Osage Producers …