The Environmental Protection Agency plans to update the public later this month on one of its existing Superfund sites created by the former Kerr-McGee Company when it was based in Oklahoma City. The 251-acre site is in Navassa, North Carolina where Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation carried out creosote-based wood treating from 1936 to 1974. The company …
An attempt to create a task force to study energy regulations enforced by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has resulted in a spat over the lack of transparency of such a group. House Minority leader Scott Inman has raised questions about House Bill 1377 proposed by House Speaker Charles McCall. Rep. Inman believes the measure would …
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday to lead the Energy Department under the Trump Administration. Perry was confirmed by a vote of 62 to 37. Despite calling for the agency’s elimination in 2012 on the campaign trail, Perry expressed regret with his statement during his confirmation hearing. In January, …
The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a floor measure on Thursday holding trespassers liable for property damage. The bill is designed to deter public protests like the recent Dakota Access Pipeline demonstration in North Dakota. House Bill 2128, authored by Rep. Mark McBride (R-Moore), assigns liability to anyone who is arrested or convicted of trespass …
A dilemma for residents of Northern Arizona. For years, they’ve complained about the pollution caused by the Navajo Generating Station, the largest coal-fired power plant in the western part of the U.S. But now that it is targeted for closing in two years, it is also where many of those complaining residents hold jobs. Hundreds …
A bill that could open the door to the state sale of the Grand River Dam Authority is being shelved this legislative session, according to its author. Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Mustang, announced this week she is pulling the bill which would outline how the state could divest the GRDA if it were to become necessary. …
New maps identify potential ground-shaking hazards in 2017 from both human-induced and natural earthquakes in the central United States, according to information released on Wednesday by the U.S. Geological Survey. It marks the second year that induced seismicity is included on the earthquake hazard map. Approximately 3.5 million people live and work in areas with …
Former Navy Seal Ryan Zinke, a congressman from Montana was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday to be Interior Secretary. It’s the same job Gov. Mary Fallin was interviewed for by President Trump. But she apparently didn’t pass the job interview. Rep. Zinke was confirmed on a 68-31 vote and received the support of …
Yet to be determined—whether the Environmental Protection Agency under the control of Scott Pruitt will be slashed by 25 percent as some reports have indicated. Sounds like Pruitt himself doesn’t know for sure, telling reporters Tuesday night he plans to discuss with the White House ways to save part of his agency’s budget including state …
Conservatives saw optimism and hope in President Trump’s first State of the Union Address Tuesday night. Democrats sat on their hands. Environmentalists remained sour to what the President wants to do with energy-related issues. Here is how E and E’s Climate Wire described one aspect of the speech: “The speech reaffirmed Trump’s desire to help …