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Turnpike Director Tells US Senate States Need Federal Government Help
When he went before a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing this week, Oklahoma Turnpike director Tim Gatz made it clear that states need more help from the federal government in maintaining and improving the nation’s highways. “The conditional deficiencies of a long underfunded national transportation system cannot be resolved by the States along and requires an …
Transportation Secretary Speaks With Inhofe About Federal Commitment to Highway Improvements
A day after Sen. Jim Inhofe chaired a Senate subcommittee hearing into the government’s FAST plan to improve highways, bridges and seaways, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao spoke with the senator during a full hearing by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Most of us are very, very excited about the prospects of an …
Energy Workers to Compete with Record Number of Memorial Day Travelers
Amidst those energy trucks hauling equipment to and from sites, whether it’s oil and gas well sites or wind farms or even downed utility lines will be a record number of Americans this Memorial Day weekend. It’s what AAA is projecting as it indicates an estimated 39.3 million Americans will take a trip 50 miles …
Inhofe Warns Highway FAST Act Might Not be Enough
Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe used a Senate subcommittee hearing this week to warn a highway improvement plan called the FAST Act is likely not enough to meet the nation’s highway needs, including those in Oklahoma. “The current investment is not enough to fully address our maintenance and new capacity needs,” said the Senator as …
Oilfield Equipment Supply Headquarters Destroyed by Elk City Tornado
An oilfield equipment supply company is one of those destroyed by the tornado that struck Elk City Tuesday evening. Moran Equipment, a firm that reportedly opened its doors in 2015 was leveled by the twister that rolled across the south side of the city. Efforts to reach the firm were met with unanswered phone …
WSJ says “era of lawless environmental regulation is over” under Scott Pruitt
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt finally got some good press this week in the form of a Wall Street Journal editorial. “EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is wasting no time broadcasting that an era of lawless environmental regulation is over,” wrote editors. “One of the best signals so far is the agency’s agreement last week to let …
Democrats Showed Their Contempt for Oklahoma’s Oil and Gas Industry
Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry became a poster boy for contempt for State House Democrats Tuesday night as they hammered energy producers for not paying their fair share of taxes. As Mustang Rep. Leslie Osborn unveiled the newly-compromised House Bill 2414, she was pelted with question after pointed question from Democrats. Late Tuesday night, the …
OIPA Director Criticizes Senate for Eliminating Tax Breaks for Industry
The Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association is critical of the budget bill passed this week by the State Senate, saying it could prove harmful to the oil and natural gas industry through the repeal of several gross production tax provisions. OIPA Executive Vice President of Governmental Affairs Tim Wigley said the state has had no …
Study Shows ‘Flow Lines’ Cause of Majority of Most Oil and Gas Spills and Leaks
An analysis of state agencies’ records shows flow lines have been problems in more than 7,000 spills and leaks since 2009 in the U.S. including the deadly home explosion in Colorado last month, according to E and E News. The energy news group cites cases in Oklahoma involving such lines including a 2011 incident near …
Lawsuit Blames Monsanto’s Roundup for Causing Cancer in Oklahomans
A Del City couple and a woman from Broken Arrow have filed a federal lawsuit against Monsanto Company, blaming the company’s herbicide Roundup for the cancer they suffer. The lawsuit, CV-00561 was filed in Oklahoma City U.S. District Court by Wanda Clarke and her husband Donald Shepherd who live in Del City and by Esmeralda …