Issuing

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) “turned an important corner” this summer in issuing final rules to implement the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Act and has set an aggressive agenda for this fall, said Chairman Gary Gensler.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) “turned an important corner” this summer in issuing final rules to implement the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Act and has set an aggressive agenda for this fall, said Chairman Gary Gensler.

After warning of the possibility Wednesday, Florida Gas Transmission followed up by issuing an Overage Alert Day for market-area customers Thursday with a 20% tolerance for negative daily imbalances.

The record-breaking drought gripping Texas has the state’s reservoir/aquifer managers eyeing water levels and issuing warnings. But lower water reserves apparently have not seriously affected oil and gas activities in the state, at least not yet.

The record-breaking drought gripping Texas has the state’s reservoir/aquifer managers eyeing water levels and issuing warnings. But lower water reserves apparently have not seriously affected oil and gas activities in the state, at least not yet.

A coalition of conservation and environmental groups wants Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett to rescind a new policy requiring Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) inspectors to get approval before issuing notices of violation to Marcellus Shale operators. In a recent letter, 42 groups, including Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, Audubon Pennsylvania and the Sierra Club, said the policy “will create unacceptable delays in resolving identified problems putting public safety and natural resources unnecessarily at risk.” The policy, described by the DEP as a three-month pilot project, requires inspectors to get all notices of violations pre-approved by DEP Secretary Michael Krancer. The DEP said the measure is a way to guarantee consistency across the state, but critics say it undermines the authority of inspectors (see Shale Daily, April 1).

Pacific Gas and Electric ended a two-day Stage 2 high-inventory OFO Sunday.

The Morgantown City Council is considering a resolution to request that West Virginia stop issuing drilling permits in its portion of the Marcellus Shale “until comprehensive legislation and inspection resources for horizontal well drilling are established to effectively protect public water resources, public health and public safety.” The resolution echoes the sentiments of a group of West Virginia House of Delegates members who have called on the state Department of Environmental Protection to institute a drilling ban until the legislature is called into special session and passes new Marcellus regulations (see Shale Daily, March 21). The legislature failed to pass proposed Marcellus regulations this year, and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has said he isn’t likely to give lawmakers a second chance by calling a special session (see Shale Daily, March 17; March 15). Recently Lewisburg, WV, the county seat of Greenbrier County, also called for a special session to address Marcellus issues. The Morgantown City Council could vote on the resolution Tuesday (April 5).

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement’s (BOEM) permit-issuing process is gathering steam. The Interior Department approved a fifth permit — this time for Chevron USA Inc. — to resume drilling in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM). This is the first permit issued for completely new exploration since the federal moratorium was lifted last October.