Contends

Focusing on the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) on Wednesday made a pitch for more rules to cover the handling of wastewater produced in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) with the release of a new NRDC report.

Responding to rival exchange CME Group’s most recent letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) contends that CME has “undermine[d] their argument” that the agency’s proposed expansion of conditional spot month limits for all major physical commodities would heighten the threat of price manipulation.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Friday called on Energy Secretary Steven Chu to broaden the membership of the panel charged with reviewing the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) practice used to develop shale natural gas.

The CME Group contends that any attempt by the Commodity Trading Futures Commission (CFTC) to impose position limits on exempt and agricultural commodities without first obtaining evidence on excessive speculation in the markets would violate federal law.

The CME Group contends that any attempt by the Commodity Trading Futures Commission (CFTC) to impose position limits on exempt and agricultural commodities without first obtaining evidence on excessive speculation in the markets would violate federal law.

An Obama administration study contends that the economic impact of the six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has not been as devastating as some economists projected.

An Obama administration study contends that the economic impact of the six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has not been as devastating as some economists projected.

A new report by Washington, DC-based Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ) contends that the major oil and natural gas companies and top executives use the tax breaks from the federal government to line their pockets.

A report developed for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released Monday contends that stepped up energy efficiency programs can replace the need for expanding natural gas drilling offshore and in what the environmental group considers pristine parts of the Rocky Mountains. NRDC is worried about various areas in the West that are viewed as attractive for gas exploration.