All five members of the Oklahoma delegation in the House were among those who voted this week for a bill making deep cuts for the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget for fiscal year 2025. The vote was 210-205 and Oklahoma Reps. Brecheen, Bice, Cole, Hern and Lucas voted to support cuts n the annual Department …
Category: EPA
Energy briefs
** The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday proposed designating one of the toxic substances spilled by a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, as a high-priority chemical under the Toxic Substances Control Act, the next step to a full ban. Vinyl chloride, a hazardous substance used in the production of plastics, is one of …
Oklahoma joins fight against EPA Carbon Rule—heads to Supreme Court
Oklahoma was among 27 states that took their fight this week against the EPA’s carbon rule to the U.S. Supreme Court. The rule was finalized in May and quickly led to a lawsuit by Republican attorneys general from 27 states and industry groups who attempted to block the landmark rule. The rule requires sweeping …
Fort Smith, Arkansas to be part of $4 billion in clean air grants
A clean environment project in Fort Smith, Arkansas and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission is among the $4.3 billiion in grants in 30 states from the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce climate pollution. The EPA announced the funds will go to 25 projects targeting greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, electric power, commercial and residential …
Energy briefs
** A proposed hydrogen pipeline that would stretch 200 miles across the Navajo Nation is an environmental threat and a safety concern due to lack of regulations, a Navajo grassroots group argues in an educational campaign about the project. ** Minnesota Power now estimates a coal ash spill at a northern Minnesota power plant is five …
From funding to new energy bills—they’ll be handled this week on Capitol Hill
Yes, there are plenty of energy issues being debated in Congress. Consider what might be decided this week as reported by The Hill. Monday The House Rules Committee is taking up House bills to fund the Energy and Interior Departments and EPA, meaning the legislation could get voted on later this week. Tuesday The House Energy and …
Two environmental court losses for Attorney General Drummond
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond suffered two court losses on Friday, both in cases involving energy-related issues. First an Oklahoma County Judge approved a permanent injunction against the state’s Energy Discrimination Elimination Act, a defense Drummond took up in May when the same judge issue a temporary hold on the controversial act. But …
Smackover oil spill cleanup is finished in Arkansas
The EPA wrapped up its cleanup work in the past week at the site of a 2,500 barrel oil spill into creeks at Smackover in Arkansas. The June 15 oil spill came from an 8-inch transfer pipeline and flowed into the Homes and Smackover creeks. The Martin Operating Partner Facility operated the lilne and …
Energy briefs
** An anonymous whistleblower will receive more than $37 million for helping financial regulators investigate misconduct, according to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither the enforcement action nor the identity of the whistleblower were disclosed, following agency policy. ** Several environmental advocacy groups, including the Environmental Integrity Project, Earthjustice and the Sierra Club have …
Energy briefs
** The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Hi-Noon Petroleum Inc. resolving alleged Clean Water Act violations involving a gasoline discharge into Grayling Creek in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The company will pay $20,000 and finish a $45,000 supplemental environmental project after the August 2022 incident. ** Offshore wind developers have sent teams to …