Steps

Environmental groups have told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) they plan to sue the federal agency unless it quickly takes steps to invoke an ozone nonattainment designation in western Wyoming in the Upper Green River Basin, the site of natural gas drilling activity.

To the consternation of some environmental activists, the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association at the end of September took two steps aimed at revising a regulation for the handling of waste produced at drilling and production sites. The association alleges that the “pit rule” drives up costs and chases drilling rigs to other states.

To the consternation of some environmental activists, the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association at the end of September took two steps aimed at revising a regulation established in 2008 for the handling of waste produced at drilling and production sites. The association alleges that the “pit rule” drives up costs and chases drilling rigs to other states.

Environmental groups have told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) they plan to sue the federal agency unless it quickly takes steps to invoke an ozone nonattainment designation in western Wyoming in the Upper Green River Basin, the site of natural gas drilling activity.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has taken steps to lease the rights to drill for natural gas in the 43,000 acres of waterways that run through the Marcellus Shale region and to grant licenses for access to water.

The economic benefits of developing shale natural gas resources in the state of New York are “enormous” and vastly outweigh the “small” environmental costs, according to a new report by the Manhattan Institute’s Center for Energy Policy and The Environment.

Colorado’s Division of Wildlife said Thursday it had reached agreement with BP America Production Co. on wildlife conservation steps to mitigate the impact of natural gas drilling in the southwestern portion of the state.

Quicksilver Resources Inc., which was one of the early entrants into the Horn River Basin of British Columbia (BC), has launched plans to create a midstream natural gas entity to support its 130,000 net-acre project.

A trade group representing oil and natural gas producers is taking steps to create a Center for Offshore Safety, which mirrors the industry-managed offshore safety institute proposed by the presidential commission on the BP plc oil spill earlier this year (see Daily GPI, Jan. 12). The API’s action comes only days after the Interior Department made its first move towards creating an offshore energy safety institute.