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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed an objection to BP plc’s $7.8 billion preliminary settlement to resolve court claims following the blowout of the Macondo well in April 2010, saying that it plans to prove “gross negligence or willful misconduct” on the company’s part.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed an objection to BP plc’s $7.8 billion preliminary settlement to resolve court claims following the blowout of the Macondo well in April 2010, saying that it plans to prove “gross negligence or willful misconduct” on the company’s part.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said it has fulfilled four of the 12 safety recommendations outlined by the National Transportation Safety Board following the natural gas transmission pipeline explosion that killed eight people in San Bruno, CA, two years ago. The San Francisco-based combination utility said it expects to satisfy two more recommendations in early 2013, which include validating maximum allowable operating pressures (MAOP) for all transmission pipelines. Recommendations completed include an emergency response procedure, 911 notifications from the utility’s gas control room, toxicological tests for employees involved in major incidents, and updating the utility record keeping system that tracks the MAOP for critical pipeline segments.

Officials from North Dakota’s Health and Mineral Resources Departments were busy over the weekend as part of the clean up following a fatal oil well blowout that occurred last Tuesday night, spewing about 400 barrels of crude over surrounding agricultural fields. A health department environmental scientist was assessing the risks of contamination to crops and local water supplies, and the Department of Mineral and Resources coordinated the cordoning off and management of the site itself. New Mexico-based Black Hawk Energy Services was in the process of putting production pumping equipment into place at the partially completed well. One worker was killed when he was run over by a truck being relocated away from the well site. The Williams County Sheriff’s Office told local news media in Williston that the incident is still under investigation. Two parts of the well’s pre-production work had been done, but it was not ready to begin commercial production, state officials told local news media.

Cash prices for weekend and Monday gas fell Friday with Northeast, Midwest and Ohio Valley points taking hard hits following revised weather forecasts. California exhibited relative strength as expectations were for triple digit temperatures at interior locations. Futures swan-dived lower as traders saw the underpinnings of what was considered a weather-driven market collapsing. At the close of futures trading September tumbled 17.5 cents to $2.770 and October dropped 16.2 cents to $2.808. September crude oil shed 49 cents to $92.87/bbl.

Following a series of tests indicating that water from private wells in Dimock Township, PA, is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last Wednesday said it has determined “that there are not levels of contaminants present that would require additional action by the agency” and it has no plans to further test water samples in the township.

Following a series of tests indicating that water from private wells in Dimock Township, PA, is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday said it has determined “that there are not levels of contaminants present that would require additional action by the agency” and it has no plans to further test water samples in the township.

In a state where water historically has dominated the energy discussion, there is more talk of oil and natural gas development, following the state’s adoption of new rules and regulations governing the expected increase in exploration and production (E&P) activity.

Cash prices gained and futures managed a reversal following news of a storage build that was larger than many industry experts were expecting, but much smaller than historical comparisons for the week.