Drones and those who might shoot them down over private property are the subject of a bill headed to the State senate floor. Sen. Ralph Shortey, R-Oklahoma City authored Senate Bill 660 which would make property owners who destroy drones flying over their land immune from civil action. He’s hoping to have the bill heard this …
Eagle Road Oil and Cummings Oil Named as Defendants In Pawnee Tribal Court Earthquake Case
Two Oklahoma oil and gas companies are targeted in a new tribal court lawsuit filed Friday by the Pawnee Nation alleging liability over the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that resulted in significant damage to tribal structures, according to a news report in The Tulsa World. Tulsa-based Eagle Road Oil LLC and Oklahoma City-based Cummings Oil Co. …
Oklahoma Rig Count Slips While the National Count Grows
Oklahoma’s oil and gas rig count slipped below 100 over the past week while the national count grew by two to reach 756, according to figures released by Baker Hughes Co. The Oklahoma county dropped by 3 to reach 98. Nationally, the county of 756 is 267 more than one year ago. The increase in …
Former Kerr-McGee Operation remains Superfund Site in North Carolina
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 …
Legislator Challenges Lack of Openness in OCC Task Force Bill
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 …
Rick Perry Confirmed as Federal Energy Department Secretary
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, …
OK House Passes Two Measures to Address Trespassers and Property Damage
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 …
Navajos Ask Trump to Keep Coal-Fired Power Plant in Arizona
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 …
Legislator Shelves GRDA Bill
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. …
USGS Issues Potential Earthquake Hazards Map Forecast for 2017
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 …









