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The proposed Constitution Pipeline has come under attack at FERC from all directions, as landowners and federal officials call on the agency to consider alternatives and put the Marcellus-to-New York natural gas pipeline through a rigorous analysis.

Deliberations were scheduled to continue Thursday at the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission (OCC) on proposed industry-prompted modifications to the state’s so-call pit rule for handling natural gas and oil drilling and production waste.

New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joseph Martens has rejected a call to conduct an independent review of the public health impacts of high-volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and instead asked the New York State Health commissioner to assess DEC’s health impact analysis to determine whether to permit fracking in the state.

New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joseph Martens last week rejected a call to conduct an independent review of the public health impacts of high-volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and instead has asked the New York State Health commissioner to assess DEC’s health impact analysis to determine whether to permit fracking in the state.

In an attempt to bring uniformity to the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the shale plays of the Appalachian Basin, a consortium of 11 producers Tuesday released recommended standards and practices on everything from the preparation of a regional spill and emergency response plan to the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) fluids, as well as for local relations and well site selection.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. is scheduled to report quarterly earnings late Tuesday, followed by a 9 a.m. ET conference call the following day that may draw a legion eager to hear from CEO Aubrey McClendon about what is taking place at undoubtedly the most tumultuous period in the corporation’s history.

Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s board of directors Thursday was working with CEO Aubrey McClendon to terminate early the Founder Well Participation Program (FWPP) in which the CEO has a contractual right to participate and invest up to a 2.5% working interest in every new well the company drills.

Williams Partners LP has modified the open season for Atlantic Access, a proposed expansion of its Transco interstate pipeline, as a result of discussions with potential shippers (see Shale Daily, Feb. 7). Transco is increasing the total firm transportation capacity, offering additional firm transportation paths and revising the proposed in-service date to December 2015. The revised open season runs through July 13. Atlantic Access would connect gas supplies originating in western West Virginia and Pennsylvania to markets in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Gulf Coast regions. Transco is now proposing a total of six firm transportation paths under the project. Two of the three original paths have been fully subscribed. For customer inquiries, contact Gary Duvall at (713) 215-2589.

A Pennsylvania lawmaker is proposing legislation that would require real-time monitoring of all natural gas wells and pipelines in the state.