Author's posts
Another Week—-Another Court Ruling Against Obama Administration’s Environmental Efforts
“Another week, another court ruling against the Obama administration,” is the reaction of U.S. Sen. James Lankford to a federal judge’s ruling this week that the federal government could not create rules banning fracking on federal and Indian lands. “This is something already regulated by the states,” said the Senator in an interview with OK …
President Signs First Major Environmental Reform in More than 25 Years
Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe calls the Toxic Substance Control Act long overdue and also the first major environmental reform to be enacted in over a quarter century. It is the Frank Lautenberg act nursed through committee by the Senator and others and was signed into law Wednesday by President Obama. It was January 9, 2015 when …
Two Oilfield Deaths in Past Week in North Dakota
North Dakota has experienced its second oilfield fatality in the past week. The latest was a 36-year-old man struck by the boom of a crane being used to remove pipe out of the ground. He worked for a Michigan-based drilling contractor hired to perform work on the well that is owned by Houston-based EOG …
Oklahoma’s Hot Weather is Nothing Compared to 2011—–Remember?
The weather’s been brutal over the past few weeks in Oklahoma but we apparently have short memories. Just ask Gary McManus, State Climatologist with the Oklahoma Mesonet. He notes that Kingfisher leads the way so far in the past month with four days of 100-degree weather or higher. And most of that heat has been …
Fracking Rules of Obama Administration Struck Down by Wyoming Federal Judge
The same federal judge in Wyoming who last year blocked implementation of President Obama’s first attempts at controlling fracking on federal and Indian lands has now struck down those regulations. “The issue before this Court is not whether hydraulic fracturing is good or bad for the environment or the citizens of the United States,” …
Success in the STACK Results in Increased Expectations for Newfield Energy
Oklahoma’s STACK has been so good to Houston, Texas based Newfield Exploration Company, the energy producer has issued an interim operations update and raised production expectations for the second quarter and the rest of 2016. Second quarter 2016 net production is now expected to exceed the mid-point guidance by nearly 0.5 million barrels and …
Senators Accuse Agency of Violating Law in Giving up US Oversight of the Internet
U.S. Sen. James Lankford and two others want some answers from the Obama administration over its possible violation of federal law in using federal funds to relinquish the U.S. oversight of the Internet. He joined Texas Sen. ted Cruz and Utah Senator Mike Lee in sending a letter to National Telecommunications and Information Administration …
National Water Firm Expands Holdings in Branson
In Branson, Missouri, the Woodland Manor water system has been purchased by Missouri American Water. The purchase involves only 170 customers but they will be incorporated into Missouri American Water’s Tri Lakes Operation which serves 6,500 customers in the Branson area, Warsaw, White Branch, Sedalia and Laurie, Missouri. The acquisition was approved by the Missouri …
Democratic Legislators Accuse Governor of Revenge in Lack of Water Board Appointment
“The governor is screwing rural southeastern Oklahoma again.” Governor Mary Fallin’s failure to appoint a southeastern Oklahoman to the Region 9 seat on the Oklahoma Water Resources Board prompted four legislators to ask for an Attorney General’s opinion this week. The four Democrats also accuse the Republican governor of seeking revenge over a …
10th Circuit Declares Environmental Fight Over 2 Coal Companies is “Moot”
The Denver Federal Appeals Court has ruled against challenges that claimed the U.S. Department of the Interior wrongly gave permission to two Colorado coal mines to expand their operations. Instead, the 10th U.S. District Court of Appeals found the challenges were “moot” because the federal agency had completed an environmental assessment and vacated the original …