Protection

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) needs to improve air emissions data for the oil and natural gas production sector, according to a report issued by the agency’s Inspector General.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) needs to improve air emissions data for the oil and natural gas production sector, according to a report issued by the agency’s Inspector General.

State of New Mexico officials, Albuquerque-based utility PNM and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last Friday reached a tentative agreement on an emission reductions plan that would shutter two coal-fired generation units and create new natural gas-fired generation.

Guidelines put in place last year by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to expedite the drilling permit application process have significantly reduced the agency’s backlog, DEP said Thursday.

Guidelines put in place last year by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to expedite the drilling permit application process have significantly reduced the agency’s backlog, DEP said Thursday.

Two colleges already playing a significant role in shaping the development of the Marcellus and Utica shales — Ohio State University (OSU) and West Virginia University (WVU) — have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to create a joint program on shale energy research.

A group of environmental organizations has written to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 6 administrator alleging that politics and not science caused the agency to drop a water contamination case against Range Resources Corp. and calling for a resumption of legal action.

Montana Democratic Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus reintroduced the North Fork Watershed Protection Act last week to protect part of the state’s remote northwest from new oil and gas development and mining. The bill would help fulfill a 2010 trans-border agreement between former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and former British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell.

In its second annual update on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from stationary sources, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tuesday said petroleum and natural gas systems produced about 6.8% of stationary source emissions, far less than the 67% contributed by power plants.