Federal safety officials at a meeting of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Tuesday in Washington, DC, described last September’s fatal San Bruno, CA, natural gas transmission pipeline rupture and explosion as preventable and resulting from systemic “flawed” pipeline operations and oversight by state regulators.
September
Articles from September
Pennsylvania Regulators Clarify Laser Ruling
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) on Thursday denied two requests to reconsider its decision to grant public utility status to a Marcellus Shale gathering project currently under construction.
CONSOL Sells Big Chunk of Marcellus Leasehold to Noble
Pittsburgh’s CONSOL Energy Inc., which has increasingly been focused on its Appalachian natural gas operations, agreed Thursday to sell Noble Energy Inc. half of its 663,350 net-acre leasehold in a portion of the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, including a half-stake in existing wells, under a multi-year transaction valued at $3.4 billion.
Pennsylvania Marcellus Passes Yearly 1,000-Well Mark
Operators drilled more than 1,000 wells into the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale through the end of July, a milestone not reached until mid-September in 2010 and not at all in 2009.
Environmental Coalition Sues DRBC over Gas Drilling Proposal
The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), which governs water quality and regulates water withdrawals over a portion of the Marcellus Shale, is being sued by a coalition of environmental groups for allowing natural gas drilling regulations to be proposed before an environmental impact study was completed.
New Jersey Township Opposes Transco Expansion
Officials in a New Jersey township have joined environmental groups in opposition to plans to expand one of the state’s natural gas pipelines, which would bring Marcellus Shale gas to markets in the state and the New York City metropolitan area.
Feds Seek Dismissal of NY Marcellus Shale Lawsuit
The federal government will ask a judge to dismiss a lawsuit from New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, which he filed to compel a full environmental review of proposed regulations for Marcellus Shale development in the Delaware River Basin.
FERC Approves Equitrans’ Sunrise Pipeline Project
FERC last Thursday approved plans by Equitrans LP to expand its natural gas pipeline system in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
California Enviros Protest Upcoming BLM Monterey Lease Sale
Three environmental groups in California have filed a formal protest against the federal Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) plans for a September oil/gas lease sale in the Monterey play, alleging that a more thorough environmental assessment (EA) is needed and calling on BLM to zero in on the impact hydraulic fracturing (fracking) might have.
PG&E Blasts San Bruno Pipe Lawsuit Allegations
Under fire in lawsuits filed on behalf of victims of the San Bruno pipeline rupture last September, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) fired back at its accusers, saying it was not blaming residents and other third-parties for the natural gas transmission line explosion.