A pair of rules proposed by the Interior Department’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that would list as endangered the gunnison sage grouse, which is found in Colorado and Utah, and designate 1.7 million acres of critical habitat for the bird under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), would cost the two states more than $290 million annually, according to a drafteconomic analysisreleased by FWS last week.
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Annual Cost for Sage Grouse Conservation: More than $290 Million
A pair of rules proposed by the Interior Department’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that would list as endangered the gunnison sage grouse, which is found in Colorado and Utah, and designate 1.7 million acres of critical habitat for the bird under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), would cost the two states more than $290 million annually, according to a drafteconomic analysisreleased by FWS this week.
Projects Progressing to Truck North Slope LNG to Alaska Interior
A pair of short pipeline connections designed to support the highway delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from liquefaction projects at Prudhoe Bay, AK, have received preliminary approval from Alaska’s State Pipeline Coordinator’s Office, moving the state one step closer to providing LNG to Fairbanks.
BLM Asked to Go Back to Drawing Board on Frack Rule
Judging from the tenor and content of the comments that have been filed on the revised hydraulic fracturing (fracking) rule, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) may have to go back to the drawing board on the draft rule for a third time.
FERC Proposes NatGas Pipes, Transmission Operators Share Information
FERC on Thursday issued a draft notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) that would allow interstate natural gas pipelines and electric transmission operators to share nonpublic operational information that they believe would promote reliable service and better planning on their systems. The proposal is the first concrete step that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has taken toward coordinating the two markets.
Spectra Lays Groundwork for Northeast Incremental Market Project
FERC has approved a request from Spectra Energy unit Algonquin Gas Transmissions to begin a pre-filing review process for the company’s proposed Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) Project, a significant step forward for the long-awaited pipeline, which would deliver to the Northeast critically needed gas from Pennsylvania.
Industry Briefs
Williams’ board has voted to approve the company’s Bluegrass Pipeline project. The company has been engaged in development work on the proposed natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline, which has a targeted in-service date of late 2015. The Bluegrass Pipeline will connect supply from the Marcellus and Utica shales to growing petrochemical and export markets in the U.S. Gulf Coast (see Shale Daily, May 30; March 7). The pipeline also will connect NGL supply with the developing petrochemical market in the U.S. Northeast. Williams and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP in May formalized joint-venture agreements tied to the project and related fractionation, storage and export projects.
Pennsylvania Governor Sounds Off on Impact Fee, Ethane Cracker
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett defended the decision to enact an impact fee, rather than a severance tax, on oil and gas drilling, and he said there was nothing new to report on a proposed ethane cracker in the western part of the state.
TransCanada Loses Round in Mainline Toll Battle
TransCanada Corp. has lost the second round of its years-long contest with natural gas shippers over proposed restructuring of finances and services for its shaky Mainline from Alberta to Ontario, Quebec and export routes to the Midwest and eastern United States.
Centrica Taking Bet on UK’s Shale Gas Resources
The UK’s leading energy retailer, Centrica, is taking a bet that shale gas resources in the country’s Bowland Basin are the real deal after making a hefty commitment in explorer Cuadrilla Resources Ltd.