Refusing

Canadian political leaders are refusing to let project delays and shaky markets lower high expectations for rapid development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from shale drilling in northern British Columbia (BC).

Canadian political leaders are refusing to let project delays and shaky markets lower high expectations for rapid development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from unconventional drilling in northern British Columbia (BC).

The New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission (OCC) resumed hearings Thursday on rules for handling oil and natural gas drilling waste, but it alienated environmental groups by refusing to take additional testimony in the year-old case.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. CEO Aubrey McClendon appeared to take it on the chin Wednesday, refusing to bow down to reports about the “unprecedented scrutiny” of the company and of himself in recent days, and promised shareholders that the management team is focused on becoming a U.S. oil-weighted giant. However, it’s going to take some time, he said, especially because the turnaround has little operational support from its natural gas-weighted portfolio.

Attorneys for the oil and gas industry in Pennsylvania are asking U.S. District Judge Sean McLaughlin to find the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in contempt for refusing to follow his 2009 order to process oil and gas development proposals in the Allegheny National Forest.

Attorneys for the oil and gas industry in Pennsylvania are asking U.S. District Judge Sean McLaughlin to find the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in contempt for refusing to follow his 2009 order to process oil and gas development proposals in the Allegheny National Forest.

A California Senate committee unanimously approved the reappointment of the state’s chief regulator while refusing to reconfirm a second member of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Michael Peevey will continue as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s choice for CPUC president and will fulfill a second six-year term that runs through 2014. A former president and board member at Southern California Edison Co., Peevey has headed the CPUC for the past seven years and was originally appointed by former Gov. Gray Davis. Commissioner Rachelle Chong was not reconfirmed because the state legislative panel refused to hear her nomination to a second term by Schwarzenegger. Chong is an attorney specializing in telecommunications and a former member of the Federal Communications Commission. Lawmakers refused to even consider confirming Chong, saying she failed to protect consumers, particularly telecommunications customers. They accused her of not resolving many major consumer complaints. Chong’s last meeting was last Thursday, and she left the CPUC hearing room abruptly at the end of the business session, asking Peevey to read a long prepared statement. At the end, Peevey expressed he and his fellow commissioners’ sadness in seeing Chong’s tenure on the five-member panel come to an end.

A California Senate committee Wednesday unanimously approved the reappointment of the state’s chief regulator while refusing to reconfirm a second member of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Michael Peevey will continue as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s choice for CPUC president and will fulfill a second six-year term that runs through 2014.

Claiming that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service are refusing to curb harmful air pollution and safeguard public health in the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico from oil and gas drilling, three environmental groups have renewed and expanded their original lawsuit against the government.