Conflict

In a stunning setback for shale development in New York state, an appellate court ruled unanimously to uphold two local bans on oil and gas activities.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Monday issued a final secretarial order aimed at ending the conflict between the oil and natural gas industry and potash companies within the 500,000-acre Designated Potash Area (DPA) in Southeast New Mexico.

Already planted firmly on the side of states’ rights advocates in the debate about regulating hydraulic fracturing (fracking), Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead said Thursday he thinks the Republican Party platform and presidential candidate Mitt Romney recognize that the states must play a key role in the nation’s energy policy.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has unveiled a draft secretarial order to end a long-standing conflict between the oil and natural gas industry, and potash companies, within the Secretary’s Potash Area (SPA) in Southeast New Mexico. An agreement leading up to the draft secretarial order required an “unprecedented level of cooperation” and proposes buffer zones between wells and potash mining operations that are designed to provide added protection to the resources. The draft order, published in the Federal Register, is open to a 30-day comment that began July 13. A final rule is expected this fall. The SPA contains deposits of both potash and oil and gas on more than 400,000 acres of land, most of which is managed by Interior’s Bureau of Land Management. It currently produces 75% of the potash mined in the United States and is also home to nearly 800 federal oil and gas leases. The draft order is available for review at www.blm.gov/nm.

A shale-rich township in southwestern Pennsylvania is proposing mediation to resolve a dispute with a local gas driller.

Range Resources Corp. is threatening to leave a western Pennsylvania township over a dispute with local officials.

The Bartonville, TX, Town Council on March 30 instituted a 90-day moratorium on new permits related to natural gas drilling and production.

A major natural gas pipeline group last Monday called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to help “remedy” the conflict between federal and state regulators involved in the permitting of interstate gas pipeline projects as part of legislation that addresses electric transmission siting.

A major natural gas pipeline group Monday called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to help “remedy” the conflict between federal and state regulators involved in the permitting of interstate gas pipeline projects as part of legislation that addresses electric transmission siting.