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EPA Does it Again: Tries to Destroy O&G with New Methane Rule

EPA-logo.jpgYesterday the federal Environmental Protection Agency–a rogue agency that is out of control and drunk on its own power (and needs reigning in)–issued more shale-killing regulations, designed to suppress the very revolution that has kept the United States out of an economic depression despite Obama’s wild spending spree. The EPA issued 600 pages of new regulations that require drillers to install expensive new equipment to locate so-called fugitive methane that may or may not be leaking from wells, pipelines, etc. And if they find such microscopic amounts of methane, they need to capture it. All in the name of preventing non-existent man-made global warming. What a lark. But it’s no laughing matter. You can tell it’s a bad regulation because the oil and gas industry has lined up against it, and radical, leftist environmental groups have lined up to support it. They should–they helped create it…
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Anti-Drillers Rush Stage at NY Power Event, Threaten FERC Chairman

Norman Bay, Chairman of FERC
Norman Bay, Chairman of FERC

Once again anti-drillers have engaged in childish, petulant behavior in an attempt to call attention to themselves. Yesterday Norman Bay, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)–the agency charged with reviewing and approving or denying pipeline projects–spoke at a conference organized by the Independent Power Producers of New York (IPPNY) near Albany, NY. As he was speaking, a half dozen radical “keep it in the ground” protesters “rushed the stage” hollering at Bay, who had to make a quick exit–concerned he would be assaulted by the out-of-control protesters. The conference organizer said the protesters were “aggressive” and “disruptive” and “out of line.” It was a private event. The group’s ring leader seems to have been Igor Vamos, a media professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Vamos is the founder of “Yes Men,” a radical protest group that has staged fake press conferences on so-called climate change. Their display shows how precariously close these unbalanced people are. Watch the video below…
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PTT Global Says Belmont, OH Ethane Cracker NOT Delayed

PTT Global logoPTT Global Chemical, based in Thailand, announced in April 2015 they are interested in building a $5 billion ethane cracker plant complex in Belmont County, OH (see It’s Official: Belmont County Chosen as POSSIBLE Cracker Plant Site). From the beginning, PTT let it be known a final decision on whether or not to invest the whole $5 billion would not come until 2016 or 2017. Last week MDN picked up a story from the Bangkok Post which said the decision will definitely come in 2017, calling the decision “delayed” (see PTT Global Says OH Cracker Decision “Delayed” Until 2017). Apparently stung by that story, a local PTT spokesman in Ohio has responded to say the Bangkok story is wrong–the decision is not “delayed” and is, in fact, on track…
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Williams Pre-Files with FERC to Expand Transco Pipeline in PA, NY

Transco Northeast Supply Enhanacement Project map
Transco Northeast Supply Enhanacement Project map – click for larger version

Williams’ Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company (Transco) has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for permission to begin the pre-filing process on a new project, called the Northeast Supply Enhancement project. The new project is meant to increase pipeline capacity and flows heading into northeastern markets. In particular, Transco wants to provide more natural gas to utility giant National Grid beginning with the 2019-2020 heating season. National Grid operates in New York City, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The Northeast Supply Enhancement project would build 10 miles of new pipeline in Lancaster County, PA (laid next to three existing pipelines, in the same corridor). It would also require 22 miles of new offshore pipeline located in New York Bay. A new compressor station would be built in Somerset County, NJ along with other upgrades, including an added compressor unit at a plant in Chester County, PA…
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Gary Evans, Ex-CEO of Magnum Hunter, Starts New O&G Company

Gary Evans
Gary Evans

That didn’t take long. Gary Evan, former CEO of bankrupt Magnum Hunter Resources lost has job as CEO of the company post-bankruptcy, just last week (see Magnum Hunter Emerges from Bankruptcy with CEO Gary Evans Gone). He’s already started a new drilling company–this one aimed at scooping up leases in the oil-rich Permian Basin and Eagle Ford fields of Texas. Apparently the Marcellus/Utica, once the apple of Gary’s eye, has left a bad taste in his mouth. He’s already raising investment capital–from friends and family–for Energy Hunter Resources, as he’s calling it. Gary does love the “Hunter” name…
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Partisan PA Anti Groups in Urge Support of Onerous New DEP Regs

PA DEPTwo more partisan organizations in Pennsylvania are publicly supporting PA Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed redo of drilling regulations–regulations that threaten conventional and unconventional drilling in the state. The fact that the radical PA Trout Unlimited and the League of [Liberal Democrat] Women Voters of Pennsylvania are supporting the Dept. of Environmental Protection’s update of Rule 78 and 78a is all you need to know about just how bad a proposal it is. These groups join other anti-drilling groups in supporting the new rules (see PennFuture “Lauds” PA Vote to Accept Onerous New Drilling Regs). Wolf hopes by having such groups publicly endorse the changes, he can force it through…
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Dela. Riverkeeper Launches Lawsuit Against Atlantic Sunrise Project

lawsuitIt’s time to sue THE Delaware Riverkeeper out of existence. The group is a litigious nuisance and anti-American. It is led by Maya van Rossum and fed by money from the Heinz Endowments and William Penn Foundation. Even with repeated calls the IRS has refused to investigate violations of the group’s non-profit status. The latest outrage from this group of virulent radicals is to launch a lawsuit to try and stop Williams’ Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline project through southeastern PA. Just last week Williams received a favorable Environmental Assessment (EA) from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (see Williams’ Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Gets Positive EIS from FERC). That was all it took. The writing is on the wall that FERC will approve the project and Williams will build it. This is a last-ditch effort by van Rossum and other radicals to shut down the project…
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Appalachia NARO Calls for Drilling in Wayne Natl Forest – NOW

NARO AppalachiaYesterday we reported that a group of Ohio landowners calling themselves LEASE (Landowners for Energy Access and Safe Exploration) are encouraging Ohio residents to write in support of drilling in the Wayne National Forest (see OH Landowners Urge BLM to Proceed with Wayne Natl Forest Drilling). The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been holding up drilling in WNF, even though some 60% of the mineral rights for the land in the forest is privately owned. Another landowner group has stepped up to add their voice–and to push back a little harder than LEASE has. The Appalachia chapter of the National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO) is calling on the BLM to allow drilling–now. NARO points out most of the mineral rights are privately owned–not controlled by the government. For the government to stop development of private land is an offense…
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Carl Icahn Installs New Puppet as CEO of Cheniere Energy

Carl-Icahn.jpgCarl Icahn is an evil corporate raider–a man who invests just enough in companies to control them, who then fires a bunch of people and sells off assets so the price of the stock will rise from his initial investment so he can turn around and sell the stock and screw another company. That’s what evil corporate raiders do. Icahn has lately spent his time in the oil and gas industry making trouble. Last December he fired the CEO of Cheneire Energy, Charif Souki (see Evil Corporate Raider Carl Icahn Claims Another CEO Scalp). Earlier this month he gloated about it (see Corp Raider Carl Icahn Admits He Fired Cheniere CEO Charif Souki). Since firing Souki, Icahn has been looking for the appropriate puppet to install who will do his bidding. He found one in Jack Fusco…
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Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Fri, May 13, 2016

best of the restThe “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading. In today’s lineup: FERC wants more info on TGP 300 Line project; big divide between Ithaca and Watkins Glen; $48.8 billion worth of Marcellus/Utica deals in 5 years; Doylestown seeks a NEXUS reroute; new natgas-fired electric plant coming to Florida; o&g board members survive bankruptcy, sometimes; and more!
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