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Energy industry experts on Tuesday urged the U.S. Senate Finance Committee to keep federal tax deductions for intangible drilling costs (IDC) and consider a uniform corporate rate as it considers comprehensive tax reform.

Energy industry experts on Tuesday urged the U.S. Senate Finance Committee to keep federal tax deductions for intangible drilling costs (IDC) and consider a uniform corporate rate as it considers comprehensive tax reform.

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) said it would “review and consider” an industry report’s claims that the agency has significantly overestimated methane emissions from natural gas well operations, particularly from unconventional wells using hydraulic fracturing. It contends, however, that its emissions estimates are based on the best data available.

The Colorado Mining Association (CMA) has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to consider its challenge to the Clinton-era “roadless rule,” which places restrictions on road-building to carry out energy exploration and production, logging and other commercial activities on forest lands. The CMA petition comes only days after the State of Wyoming petitioned the high court to review the October 2011 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which had overturned a 2008 U.S. District Court ruling permanently enjoining the enforcement of the roadless rule (see Daily GPI, Oct. 25, 2011). Because the roadless rule violated the National Environmental Policy Act and Wilderness Act. it “must be set aside,” U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer of Wyoming wrote in his 2008 decision (see Daily GPI, Aug. 14, 2008). “If allowed to stand, the roadless rule will effectively prevent future mining operations on roadless lands lead to a decrease in mineral and coal production, job losses and sharp decreases in taxes and revenues,” said attorney Paul Seby, who filed the CMA’s petition with the high court.

A bipartisan group of Michigan House lawmakers is urging its colleagues to consider ways to expand the use of natural gas, offer tax breaks to some producers, get regular reports on the state’s infrastructure and capabilities for natural gas, and put more land with state-owned mineral rights up for oil and natural gas leasing.

Native Americans claim they were unable to add input in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) negotiations on the final rules that will regulate hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of oil and gas operations on public lands. Absent this input, some of the tribal leaders claimed the rules could impede their ability to develop their energy resources.

A bipartisan group of Michigan House lawmakers is urging its colleagues to consider ways to expand the use of natural gas, offer tax breaks to some oil producers, get regular reports on the state’s infrastructure and capabilities for natural gas, and put more land with state-owned mineral rights up for oil and natural gas leasing.

A bipartisan group of Michigan House lawmakers is urging its colleagues to consider ways to boost natural gas exploration, development and production, including a proposal to put more land up for oil and natural gas leasing, including its considerable unconventional resources, that include the Antrim, Collingwood and Utica shales.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is scheduled Wednesday to consider the much-anticipated final rule defining “swap dealers” (SDs) and “major swap participants” (MSPs), as well as other market entities. The rule, the result of probably the most contentious rulemaking proceeding at the agency, will lay the groundwork for the CFTC to proceed with other regulatory reforms under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act.