Plan

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead on Monday reiterated his dislike of the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Regional Haze Plan, noting the agency denied his state’s haze plan after entering into a consent degree with environmental group WildEarth Guardians, which had filed a lawsuit in Colorado.

The second version of the U.S. Department of Interior’s (DOE) proposed rule to regulate hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on public lands isn’t as bad as the first, but with a projected cost per well of $96,913, it still leaves much to be desired, industry groups said.

ExxonMobil Corp. subsidiary XTO Energy Inc. will pay a $100,000 penalty and spend an estimated $20 million on a plan to improve wastewater management practices following a settlement with federal authorities to resolve an alleged violation of the Clean Water Act related to the discharge of hydraulic fracturing wastewater at a Lycoming County, PA, facility.

Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) Chairman Michele Sierkerka said the organization is working to advance natural gas regulations in the basin, with “thousands of hours” logged so far by its staff and those of its member states on the process since November 2011.

A check, which says markets, not boosters, decide the fate of projects, is built into the biggest plan for exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from new terminals on the northern Pacific Coast of British Columbia (BC).

A coalition of landowners in Wayne County, PA, is threatening to file a lawsuit against the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) over a continuing delay in either enacting natural gas regulations in the basin or deferring regulation to its four member states.

As part of President Obama’s climate action plan (see NGI, July 1), the Department of Energy (DOE) last Tuesday announced a draft $8 billion loan guarantee solicitation to develop advanced technologies aimed at avoiding and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuels.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett is urging the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to proceed with a proposal to revise water quality regulations, a move that could ultimately open the basin to expanded Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling.

As part of President Obama’s climate action plan, the Department of Energy Tuesday announced a draft $8 billion loan guarantee solicitation for the development of advanced technologies aimed at avoiding and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuels.