Reopened

New Mexico state authorities on Thursday reopened a case on proposed industry-prompted modifications to the state’s “pit rule” for handling natural gas and oil drilling and production waste.

Although Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has narrowed the field of gasline contenders to one — TransCanada — through the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) process, the door has reopened to a previously rejected candidate. Producer ConocoPhillips also is still in the hunt with its non-AGIA proposal, and a former governor told NGI that a rethink of the project is in order on a number of fronts.

Although Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has narrowed the field of gasline contenders to one — TransCanada — through the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) process, the door has reopened to a previously rejected candidate. Producer ConocoPhillips also is still in the hunt with its non-AGIA proposal, and a former governor told NGI that a rethink of the project is in order on a number of fronts.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) resumed the appeal process and reopened the comment period on the Islander East project earlier this month. The public comment period will extend to Nov. 20 and a public hearing on the project will be scheduled this fall in Connecticut, NOAA said in a Federal Register notice. Meanwhile, on Aug. 8, NOAA officially closed the record on the Millennium Pipeline appeal, leaving 90 days for it to make a final decision on the project.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) resumed the appeal process and reopened the comment period on the Islander East project earlier this month. The public comment period will extend to Nov. 20 and a public hearing on the project will be scheduled this fall in Connecticut, NOAA said in a Federal Register notice. Meanwhile, on Aug. 8, NOAA officially closed the record on the Millennium Pipeline appeal, leaving 90 days for it to make a final decision on the project.

One of the first casualties in the late 1990s energy downturnwas the closure of Texas A&M Engineering and Extension ServiceDrilling Rig School near Abilene, TX. As the industry struggles tobuild up exploration and production activities, it also isstruggling with finding enough workers — and Texas RailroadCommissioner Charles Matthews wants the school to open its doorsonce again.