“Profitable and widely applicable” practices have the potential to reduce methane emissions in the United States by more than 80%, and the captured methane could “bring in billions of dollars in revenue while benefiting the environment,” according to a report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Practices
Articles from Practices
Group Calls for Continuing Work on Pennsylvania Regulations
As Pennsylvania worked toward overhauling environmental rules for shale development in February, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) said “while this legislation is not perfect, the people of Pennsylvania are better served by passage of this bill now than to wait another year or longer for something stronger.”
Maryland House Passes 7.5% Severance Tax on Natural Gas
The Maryland House of Delegates passed a 7.5% state severance tax on natural gas production on Monday, which if adopted would become the highest severance tax rate for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale.
Maryland House of Delegates Passes Two Marcellus Bills
The Maryland House of Delegates passed two Marcellus Shale regulatory bills on Saturday, adding clarity to how lawmakers expect the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to regulate oil and natural gas operators, as well as several aspects of their drilling activities.
Review Finds ‘Well Managed’ Arkansas Fracking Regulation
State regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) practices in Arkansas is “well managed and professional” but has room for improvement in a few areas, a recent review found.
Murkowski: Is DOE Looking for Fracking ‘Smoking Gun?’
The intent of continued research by the Department of Energy (DOE) into hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is “can we help drive the technology development forward,” Energy Secretary Steven Chu told a Senate committee Thursday.
Industry Brief
Shareholder proposals requesting information on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) practices, which received an average 30.3% shareholder support in 2010, are becoming more popular, receiving an average 40.7% support this year, according to Institutional Shareholder Services. The corporate proxy firm has proposed a policy calling on shareholders to vote for proposals requesting greater disclosure of fracking operations, including measures companies have taken to mitigate potential community and environmental impacts. Current ISS policy does not specifically address fracking-related shareholder proposals.
PA Delegation Wants Feds Out of Shale Regulation
A group of 10 Republican and three Democratic members of Congress from Pennsylvania is calling on the National Economic Council (NEC) to recognize the economic value of the Marcellus Shale to their state and the potential value of shale gas to the nation — and to leave its regulation to state and local authorities.
Fracking Has Become a ‘Bumper Sticker’ Cause, Geophysics Professor Testifies
While environmentalists and some citizens are opposed to the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to develop shale natural gas, experts — one of whom has studied fracking for more than 41 years — told a Senate committee the practice does not negatively impact drinking water or the environment.
Survey: Execs Confident Companies Are Safe From Cyber Attack
A survey conducted by the consulting firm PwC indicates that oil and gas industry executives are confident that their companies’ information security practices will provide protection from cyber attacks, despite poor intelligence of how and when future attacks could be mounted.