Current methane pollution rules for new oil and gas wells are a step closer to being revoked by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA sent its final rule this week revoking the pollution rules to the Office of Management and Budget for review. The rule is Reg. 2060-AT90 the agency said in a court filing this week that …
Category: EPA
EPA leader strips some environmental power from states
Under a move this week by Environmental Protection Agency Chief Andrew Wheeler, the permit process used by New York and New Jersey denying Tulsa’s Williams Cos. a major natural gas line project will no longer be allowed. Wheeler signed a rule that limits state powers to block some energy infrastructure projects as the Northeast …
EPA Administrator to testify before Sen. Inhofe and others
Could be some fireworks this week when Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler testifies before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Democrats who are critical of the Trump administration’s handling of the EPA are sure to ask some highly critical questions of Wheeler and his running of the agency. Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim …
What EPA won’t do, Colorado officials say they will do
While the Environmental Protection Agency is backing away from enforcing many of the nation’s environmental laws, health officials in Colorado say they will enforce the laws concerning air and water pollution. “At a time when everyone in Colorado is rallying to fight the spread of a serious respiratory illness, it would be unacceptable for us …
EPA won’t release pictures of Scott Pruitt’s soundproof phone booth
One environmental news organization reports the EPA is refusing to reveal a photograph of one of former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s more controversial projects—his “privacy booth” created to protect his phone calls. E and E news says EPA officials claim that releasing a picture of it could violate someone’s privacy or put someone’s life at …
Science advisory board says EPA’s WOTUS rewrite isn’t based on science
A rewrite by the Trump administration’s EPA of the Obama administration’s WOTUS rules has been criticized by an agency advisory panel. The rules, rewritten in January were heavily criticized by Oklahoma farmers and ranchers as well as members of Congress. But the EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) said this week some of the changes in the …
Senators want Trump’s EPA to fight Denver Federal Appeals Court
Oklahoma U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe and James Lankford are among 11 senators urging the Trump administration to challenge a renewable fuels decision from the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. They want the EPA to fight the court. The Senators are among those who support the administration’s original rule to grant ethanol …
Danger of ‘forever chemicals’ leads to criminal probes
From fire-fighting foam used at Air Force bases in Oklahoma and across the U.S. to sticky notes to the shoes we wear….they involve PFAS chemicals and now have led to criminal investigations involving the EPA. Bloomberg Environment reports it’s the latest twist involving what are called “forever chemicals.” The Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged the probes in …
Denver court ruling leads to EPA reduction of waivers to ethanol blending
The Environmental Protection Agency says it will drastically reduce the number of exemptions granted to small refineries seeking to cut their 2020 ethanol blending requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The announcement comes after a Denver federal court ruling in January said the EPA exceeded its authority in exempting three oil refineries including one in …
Infighting by environmentalists over Scott Pruitt directive
Environmentalists are still fighting over decisions made when Scott Pruitt was Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. They wanted him out of office and got their wish, but now can’t decide on one topic of contention. POLITICO’s Morning Energy Report says the EPA and the Natural Resources Defense Council can’t agree on what to do after …