Gutted

Over-abundant markets and fallen prices have gutted government natural gas royalties in both of Canada’s main producing provinces, Alberta and British Columbia (BC), according to accounts disclosed by their treasury departments.

After glutted markets and gutted prices for natural gas cut the cost motive, environmental anxiety still drives an accelerating Alberta quest to reduce fuel consumption by oilsands projects.

Alleging that long-standing endangered species protections are being “gutted,” California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to stop new rules by the Departments of Interior and Commerce that were made final Dec. 16 and would allegedly eliminate the mandate for scientific review of federal agency decisions that might affect endangered species.

Alleging that long-standing endangered species protections are being “gutted,” California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown last Monday filed a federal lawsuit seeking to stop new rules by the Departments of Interior and Commerce that were made final Dec. 16 and would allegedly eliminate the mandate for scientific review of federal agency decisions that might affect endangered species.

Fearing that the protections for Florida offered in the Senate’s Lease Sale 181 bill might be gutted if merged with the House’s more expansive bill for drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) said he will offer an amendment during debate on the Lease 181 bill this week that will ask senators to reject up-front the competing House offshore bill.