Author's posts
Lucas Calls Elimination of WOTUS a ‘Major Win’
Catching up on reaction to President Trump’s executive order reversing the Waters of the U.S. rule. Oklahoma U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas was obviously happy about the move. “The Waters of the U.S. rule has created widespread uncertainty for many of the folks in the agriculture, energy, and construction sectors across our country,” said Lucas in …
City of Lawton Pushes Ahead with Energy Saving Plan
The City of Lawton is moving ahead with an energy savings plan dating back to the fall of 2015. As the Lawton Constitution reports, the city council considered the Op Terra ES plan to analyze city operations to find additional energy savings. The plan will focus on technology, lighting, control and mechanical projects. Outdated chillers …
Cleanup of Dakota Access Pipeline Protest Site Still Underway
The environmentalists who protested and demonstrated against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota left enough trash behind that they created their own environmental problem. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had to hired a Florida-based company to remove the trash and other debris left behind when the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe finally abandoned the …
Inhofe Loses Another Aide to Trump Administration
Make it three aides to U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe who have now joined the Trump administration in energy and environmental positions. It was announced this week that Inhofe’s longtime aide Ryan Jackson had joined Scott Pruitt at the EPA to become his top staffer. Jackson left Inhofe’s office to become chief of staff at the …
Merger Creates Largest Pipeline Operator in North America
Tulsa’s Williams Companies has some competition when it comes to being the largest pipeline operator in the country. With the $28 billion acquisition by Calgary-based Enbridge of Houston’s Spectra Energy, the result is North America’s largest network of oil and gas pipelines. The merger announced on Monday combines Enbridge’s oil pipeline, rail and electric transmission …
Scientists Worry About Pruitt at the Helm of the EPA
One of the concerned groups wondering about the impact of an EPA under the control of former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is the Union of Concerned Scientists. Its President, Kenneth Kimmell recently told E and E’s ClimateWire he has a deep concern Pruitt’s role as EPA Administrator means the end of a strong federal …
Southwestern Cable Firm gets $15 million USDA Loan
Southwestern Oklahoma will get improved fiber optics under a loan announced this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Southern Plains Cable LLC. The company is receiving a $15.3 million loan to build a fiber-optic broadband network serving a 55-square mile area that includes the communities of Anadarko, Verden and Chickasha. Southern Plains Cable …
New Mexico Considers Drone Restriction Bill
The New Mexico legislature is considering a bill to restrict drones from flying within 500 feet of power plants and refineries. The measure is to go before the Senate Public Affairs Committee this week. Senator Greg Baca’s bill would ban drones from flying with 500 feet if critical-infrastructure facilities as well as interfering with firefighters …
Private Email for Government Business? Did Pruitt Do it?
Scott Pruitt might have some explaining to do. During his U.S. Senate Committee confirmation hearing, he testified he used only his official email address and government issued phone to conduct official business. But that’s not what is indicated in the emails released last week in a lawsuit filed by the Center for Media and …
Uncertainty Ahead at EPA and Its Budget
As President Trump prepares for a major shift of the government budget to shore up what many believe is an ailing military budget, former Oklahoma Attorney General and now EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt isn’t talking details of the impact on his agency. During a question-and-answer session over the weekend at the Conservative Political Action Conference, …