Author's posts
Pruitt’s Selection to Head EPA Angers Environmentalists but is Applauded by Energy Groups
Oil and gas groups in Oklahoma came out Wednesday applauding Donald Trump’s selection of State Attorney General Scott Pruitt to run the Environmental Protection Agency. As for environmentalists—-that’s another story. “For the past eight years, we’ve seen executive overreach put increased unnecessary and burdensome place to the detriment of not just Oklahoma’s oil and …
Pruitt Picked to be New EPA Administrator
If Donald Trump’s announcement of picking Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be the new leader of the Environmental Protection Agency, it is a sign that the direction of the giant agency and what Pruitt and others have called “over-regulation by the EPA” will change drastically. The 48-year old Pruitt will have to be …
Energy Sector Slowly Improving in Oklahoma But Rest of State is Lagging
Another sign of a slowly improving energy sector in Oklahoma as November tax collections were up compared to a year ago. State Treasurer Ken Miller says it’s the second month of improvements as he released the monthly Gross Receipts to the Treasury Report. The November gross production taxes generated $34.1 million which was an increase …
Publisher Leads Way in Latest Earthquake Lawsuit
The latest class-action lawsuit filed over earthquakes in Oklahoma has a familiar name—-Scott Poynter. He’s filed previous lawsuits over damaging earthquakes in Prague then in Pawnee and now in Cushing following the 5.0 magnitude quake in early November. “What we’re wanting the oil and gas industry to be is good neighbors,” he told …
Energy Growth Predicted for Oklahoma in the Coming Year
Economists at this week’s 2017 Oklahoma Economic Outlook Conference held by Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma City offered optimism about the future of the state’s energy industry. They indicated the recent increase in energy prices should lead employment in the energy sector to stabilize and increase slightly in the coming year. “Oil prices have …
Rep. Mullin says ‘Privatization’ Comments were Distorted by Media
U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin and others named to President-elect Donald Trump’s list of advisors on Native American issues have stirred up a storm by proposing to privatize Indian lands in order to ease strict regulations on oil and gas drilling. Mullin and the others, including former Cherokee nation chief Ross Swimmer described the rules as …
Pipeline Protesters Victory in North Dakota Could be Short-Lived
For the Indian activists, the decision by the Army Corps of Engineers to halt construction of the nearly-completed Dakota Access Pipeline could be a short-lived victory. The unanswered question is: What might Donald Trump do once he becomes President? Industry leaders want him to make it a top priority next month to go ahead and …
Navajo Nation Wants $162 million from EPA Over 2015 Gold Mine Spill in Colorado
The 2015 Gold King Mine disaster in southern Colorado has led to the Navajo Nation filing a claim seeking more than $160 million from the federal government to pay for damages. The spill into the San Juan River dumped three million gallons of toxic sludge into waterways and led to environmental concerns in neighboring states. …
Colorado’s First Coal Gasification Plan is Proposed
What could become Colorado’s first coal gasification plant is raising some questions among residents. Kentucky-based Bowie Resource Partners has submitted a request to Colorado’s Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety to develop a plan to process coal waste using heat, pressure and chemicals to create a synthetic gas which in turn could be used to …
Water Act to Include State Regulation of Coal Ash
The U.S. Senate and House have reached a bipartisan deal to allow states to regulate coal ash disposal as part of the final Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. Sen. Jim Inhofe, as chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee praised the deal as did others. “We’re pleased that the final WIIN package …