Regulation

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    PA Democrat Senator Calls for Frack Ban in Lake Erie Watershed

    Sean_Wiley
    PA State Sen. Sean Wiley

    Yet another Pennsylvania Democrat in the state legislature is calling for a frack ban. What is it about PA Dems and their allergies to fossil fuels? This time the pandering Dem is State Sen. Sean Wiley–and he’s calling for a ban on fracking in the Lake Erie watershed of western PA. His reasoning for illegally seizing the property rights of his constituents is really kind of funny. He says there should be a ban until we “see what are the risks associated with unconventional drilling.” Even though PA has been using unconventional drilling (i.e. horizontal drilling with hydraulic fracturing) in the Marcellus Shale since 2004. Apparently 13 years of intense drilling in the Keystone State is still not enough for Sen. Wiley to know what the risks associated with such drilling are. Either Wiley is lying, or he’s a dope. We doubt he’s a dope…
    Read More “PA Democrat Senator Calls for Frack Ban in Lake Erie Watershed”

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    Williams’ Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Gets Positive EIS from FERC

    Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline map
    Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline map – click for larger version

    The sun continues to rise on on Williams’ Transco Atlantic Sunrise pipeline project. It seems like we’ve covered the story of Atlantic Sunrise forever–a $2.1 billion project consisting of compression and looping of the Transco Leidy Line in Pennsylvania along with a greenfield (brand new) pipeline segment of 178 miles, called the Central Penn Line, connecting the northeastern Marcellus producing region to the Transco mainline near Station 195 in southeastern Pennsylvania (see Atlantic Sunrise Will Pump $1.6B into Economy, Create 8K Jobs). There’s been some opposition from wackos and nutjobs–but for all their bluster, they are relatively few in number. In April 2015 Williams filed an official application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (see It’s Official: Williams Files with FERC for Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline). A major step in the approval process is to receive a favorable environmental impact statement (EIS) from FERC. That happened yesterday. FERC says that although there are “some impacts on the environment,” those impacts “would be reduced to less-than-significant levels” with proposed mitigation by Williams. This is really terrific news–an indication that FERC will grant final approval later this year or early next year…
    Read More “Williams’ Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Gets Positive EIS from FERC”

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    Analyst Says Check Your History, Constitution Pipe Won’t Get Built

    Constitution Pipeline map
    Constitution Pipeline map – click for larger version

    An analyst with a Washington, D.C. policy and research firm believes that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recent action in denying Williams stream crossing permits for the Constitution Pipeline means that project is dead. He cites another pipeline project from a decade ago–the Islander East project–that faced a similar situation. In the end, Islander East didn’t get built. He believes the same fate is in store for the Constitution. We sincerely hope he’s wrong and that FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) will “grow a pair” and not let Gov. Cuomo bully them. At its heart this is a battle over the trampling of federal authority. We find it curious that Obama and his sycophants throughout the government are hellbent on expanding federal authority over every aspect of our lives–from health care, to what we eat, to what forms of power we can use. And yet these same people stand by and are silent when a federal agency like FERC is emasculated by a state like NY. Of course it should be the opposite. This is one time when the federal government Constitutionally has the authority to act, and that authority has been illegally co-opted by a state. FERC needs to force the issue in court to overrule NY’s abuse of power. The analyst, however, doesn’t see it that way…
    Read More “Analyst Says Check Your History, Constitution Pipe Won’t Get Built”

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    New Bill Trims PA Gov’s Control over Environmental Quality Board

    PA State Rep Cris Dush
    PA State Rep Cris Dush

    Republican members of the Pennsylvania legislature are tired of radical leftists like PA Gov. Tom Wolf and his Secretary of the Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) John Quigley running environmental policies in the state like dictators. So they’re attempting to remove some of the power they have by changing the Environmental Quality Board (EQB). The EQB is part of the DEP. Its role is to adopt new regulations proffered by the DEP. Essentially it’s a watchdog to ensure new regulations don’t become too onerous. But the EQB has been co-opted by Quigley and Wolf–witness the recent EQB vote to adopt onerous new regulations by Quigley & co. known as Chapter 78 and 78a of PA’s oil and gas law (see PA Board Adopts New Drilling Regs, PIOGA Blasts DEP “Deceptive”). So PA State Rep. Chris Dush is about to float a new bill and is looking for co-sponsors of the bill, a bill that will remove the DEP Sec. as the Chairman of the Board for the EQB. It also expands membership of the board to 23 members (up from 20) and doubles the number of members appointed by the House and Senate from four to eight. In other words, it’s time to reshuffle the EQB deck and give the executive branch less of say on the board…
    Read More “New Bill Trims PA Gov’s Control over Environmental Quality Board”

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    South Fayette, PA Restrictive Drilling Ordinance Tossed by Judge

    court-gavel.jpgSomething noteworthy has happened in western Pennsylvania and (so far) local media has chosen not to cover it. So MDN is happy to break the following story about South Fayette Township in Allegheny County (near Pittsburgh). South Fayette is one of seven PA towns that sued the state after the Act 13 law was enacted in 2012 (see Lawsuit Filed: PA Towns Sue State over Marcellus Act 13 Law). Ultimately the towns won their case at the PA Supreme Court level, winning the right to enact their own ordinances with respect to oil and gas drilling. A nutty concept that towns have the necessary skills to regulate a complex industry like oil and gas–but there you go. Range Resources and landowners in the town, including Cuddy Partners, have had a long-running feud with the town over their hyper-restrictive ordinances (see Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article Drilling regulations face challenge in South Fayette). In 2015 South Fayette decided to revise their ordinance yet again with respect to shale drilling, making the ordinance even more restrictive than before. Cuddy Partners and Alpine Partners (landowners in the town) sued over the revised ordinance. The lawsuit alleged the ordinance was improperly enacted–rushed through without proper public notice. Last week Allegheny Court of Common Pleas Judge Joseph James agreed and ruled that the South Fayette revised ordinance is “invalid, null and void”…
    Read More “South Fayette, PA Restrictive Drilling Ordinance Tossed by Judge”

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    Critical Project for Canadian LNG Exports Gets Favorable FERC Review

    map_atlantic_bridge_full
    Click for larger version

    Spectra Energy’s Atlantic Bridge project has just gotten an important “favorable” Environmental Assessment (EA) from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. A favorable EA is a signal that FERC will, later this year, grant a full approval for the project. And that’s really good news for Canadian LNG export plants–and equally good news for Marcellus drillers. Here’s how this news all ties together. The Atlantic Bridge project is a series of upgrades to two different pipeline systems already in existence: the Algonquin Gas Transmission (AGT) pipeline and the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline (M&NE). The two pipelines will be connected along the coast of Massachusetts, near Boston. Thing is, right now the M&NE flow gas from north to south, from Canada to the U.S. Part of the Atlantic Bridge project is to make M&NE bidirectional, able to flow gas from south to north. The AGT will collect gas from the prolific Marcellus via a third Spectra-owned pipeline–the Texas Eastern Transmission Company (TETCO) pipeline–delivering Marcellus gas to New England. Yes, much/most of the gas will go to New England, but excess gas produced during periods of the year when not as much gas is used in New England will then be available to flow on up to Canada and to one of several new LNG export facilities either in planning or under construction. It all starts with a favorable EA…
    Read More “Critical Project for Canadian LNG Exports Gets Favorable FERC Review”

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    Another Baby Step in Fracking Ohio’s Wayne National Forest

    Wayne National Forest
    Wayne National Forest – click for larger image

    Wayne National Forest (WNF) is the only national forest in Ohio and portions of it are found in Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Lawrence, Perry, Scioto, Vinton, and Washington counties. WNF is a “patchwork” of public land scattered among private land. Some 60% of the mineral rights below WNF are privately owned. Those mineral rights owners have been denied the use of their property rights going on a decade. The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) controls drilling on federally-protected lands like WNF. Last November the BLM held a series of hearings about finally beginning to drill in WNF. In January we told you that the BLM is working on a draft Environmental Assessment for drilling in WNF (see Small Progress with Drilling in Ohio’s Wayne National Forest). The BLM is ready to share the draft EA and wants public input–which means we now take another baby step toward drilling in WNF. As we previously pointed out in January, the BLM has decided to wait on pursuing drilling in the “Athens Unit” until 2017. However, the BLM is taking the next step in the “Marietta Unit” now. The draft EA is for the Marietta Unit (full copy of the draft EA embedded below)…
    Read More “Another Baby Step in Fracking Ohio’s Wayne National Forest”

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    Obama DOJ Kills Halliburton/Baker Hughes Merger, Deal “Terminated”

    It's Dead JimIt’s a sad day for Halliburton and Baker Hughes. The two companies intended to get married, with Halliburton buying out BH and merging it in a deal worth $35 billion (see Shotgun Wedding: Halliburton Forces Baker Hughes to Sell). That was in November 2014. Since then, the two companies have jumped through every hoop demanded of them, including shedding assets (see Halliburton/Baker Hughes Hold a Pre-Merger Garage Sale). By the end of last year, rumors were circulating that the deal is in trouble (see Whispers Turning in Chorus, Halliburton/BH Deal in Trouble). Then European regulators began throwing cold water on the deal (see Europe Puts Halliburton/BH Merger Under a Microscope). No problem–HalliHughes thought they could still pull it off. But then the bullies of the Obama Justice Department got involved and sued to block the deal (see Obama DOJ Sues to Block Halliburton/Baker Hughes Merger). We can’t remember a time when the DOJ opposed a big deal it ended up happening. And so it is with this one. The bullies have won. In a rare Sunday press release, Baker Hughes says the deal is now off–and Halliburton owes Baker Hughes $3.5 billion in a breakup fee–due by this Wednesday. Happy May Day, Halli!…
    Read More “Obama DOJ Kills Halliburton/Baker Hughes Merger, Deal “Terminated””

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    UGI Sunbury Pipeline Gets FERC Approval, Built by November?

    UGI Marcellus assets map
    UGI Marcellus assets map – click for larger version

    Contrary to the lies spread by anti-pipeline groups like THE Delaware Riverkeeper, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is no rubber stamp for the oil and gas industry. In December 2014 Pennsylvania utility company UGI pre-filed an application to build a new 35-mile pipeline to feed a natgas-powered electric generating plant in Snyder County, PA (see UGI Pre-Files with FERC for New Marcellus Pipeline in Central PA and UGI Building 35-Mile Pipeline for Panda Power Electric Plant). The project was estimated to cost $150 million–money that goes into the local economy. It took long enough, but last week the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) finally approved the project. The 20-inch Sunbury Pipeline will start in Lycoming County and travel through Montour, Union, and Northumberland counties, cross the Susquehanna River and ending up at Hummel Station Plant in Shamokin Dam in Synder County…
    Read More “UGI Sunbury Pipeline Gets FERC Approval, Built by November?”

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    PA DEP Expands Air Monitoring of Marcellus Sites, Compressor Stns

    PA DEPThe Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) said yesterday they will launch an “unprecedented expansion” of air monitoring near compressor stations and shale wells in the Marcellus. DEP Sec. John Quigley said the DEP will add 10 new monitoring sites to its existing network of 27 sites. Part of the $1.56 million it will take to install and maintain the sites for five years is coming from taxpayers’ federal government pocket, from a Federal Clean Air Act grant. What does Quigley expect to do with the data they collect from this effort? On a teleconference call he said, “We have no expectations here. The ambition is to get a more comprehensive dataset.” There’s a fine expenditure of taxpayer’s money–spend it with no expectations! Here’s the low down on the latest DEP boondoggle…
    Read More “PA DEP Expands Air Monitoring of Marcellus Sites, Compressor Stns”

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    Constitution, Other NE Pipeline Delays – Blessing in Disguise?

    good news bad newsMDN is certainly not of this opinion, but we spotted a Reuters article that quotes several natural gas market analysts who say recent announcements of pipeline delays may boost natgas prices–and that’s a good thing. Of course being a good thing is in the eye of the beholder. Pipeline delays in the Marcellus/Utica–like the Constitution Pipeline–mean (a) lack of takeaway means natural gas prices in the Marcellus/Utica region will continue to be the lowest in the country, which means (b) drilling in the Marcellus/Utica will continue to slow and won’t restart any time soon, consequently (c) that will lead to less production, and so (d) less supply in the northeast will mean prices for natural gas, and things that natgas produces (i.e. electricity) will go higher in places like New York City and New England. Whether that’s all good news or bad news depends on your point of view…
    Read More “Constitution, Other NE Pipeline Delays – Blessing in Disguise?”

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    Penn Twp Blocks Apex Energy Well Pad Request, What Next?

    Penn TwpHow do you prove a negative? You can’t. But that’s the (illegal) demand Penn Township (near Pittsburgh) is placing on Apex Energy. Penn Township’s zoning board has denied Apex permits to begin building a well pad for an eventual nine wells–wells that are fully permitted and permissioned by the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP). The Penn Township ordinance “states that drillers have to prove that the drilling site won’t violate Penn Township citizens’ rights to clean air and water.” Apex provided air and water studies showing possible risks from accidental spills, etc.–along with how they will prevent such things from happening. But the zoning board was tone deaf and rejected it. So what’s next? We’ve seen this movie before. Last year a group of anti-drillers took Apex to court to stop drilling on two wells, with the town backing them. Apex’s lawyers roared that the company was losing $70K per day by not drilling, threatening to sue. The town backed down, and Apex drilled the wells…
    Read More “Penn Twp Blocks Apex Energy Well Pad Request, What Next?”

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    Cabot/Williams to NY: You Lied Re Constitution Pipe, We’re Suing

    liar.jpgThe partners in the Constitution Pipeline, including Williams and Cabot Oil & Gas, have come roaring back against Gov. Cuomo and his pusillanimous Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) after the DEC lied last Friday in announcing they would not grant stream crossing permits for the pipeline project. Yesterday Cabot, along with Williams, issued a STRONGLY worded rebuttal that says, in part that the DEC’s “stated rationale for the denial includes flagrant misstatements and inaccurate allegations, and appears to be driven more by New York State politics than by environmental science.” Flagrant misstatements is another way of saying the DEC lied, which is exactly what we said yesterday (see NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline). The new statement also says the Constitution worked closely with the DEC for three years and bent over backwards, forwards and in every other possible direction to meet the DEC’s requests and requirements. The statement says “The project sponsors will pursue all available options to challenge the legality and appropriateness of New York’s decision.” In other words, we’re suing to force this project through. Good! About time!! Here’s the full statement (take time to read it)…
    Read More “Cabot/Williams to NY: You Lied Re Constitution Pipe, We’re Suing”

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    Constitution Pipe Denial May Destroy 2K Existing Upstate NY Jobs

    Raymond forkliftNew York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s action to stop progress on the Constitution Pipeline has very real, tangible negative effects on jobs in Upstate New York. This is the true story of two large regional employers in New York’s Southern Tier that would benefit from cheap, abundant, and clean-burning Marcellus Shale gas from northeastern Pennsylvania. Wait. You believed the anti’s lie that all of the gas traveling through the Constitution would be transported to other areas, with much of it exported, and would not in any way benefit local residents? Yeah, that’s a lie. Another 100% lie pedaled by irrational fossil fuel haters. As the Constitution crosses places like Broome, Chenango and Delaware counties in the Southern Tier of New York State (i.e. “Upstate”), the pipeline will be tapped in several locations by Leatherstocking Gas Co.–a small but important local utility company. Leatherstocking will then provide gas to area communities and to two large businesses. One of those businesses is the Amphenol Aerospace plant in Sidney, NY. Amphenol is the largest employer in Delaware County with some 1,100 employees. Amphenol needs cheap Marcellus Shale gas from the Constitution to stay competitive and to keep the plant open. The second business is located in the small Chenango County village of Greene–Raymond Corporation. You know those bright red-colored forklifts you see in warehouses and factories? They’re all built at Raymond, which ships them worldwide. The facility is now owned by Toyota. Raymond also needs natural gas from the Constitution Pipeline. With over 800 1,600 employees at Raymond, it is the third largest employer in Chenango County. Does Gov. Cuomo really want to play Russian roulette with nearly 2,000 upstate jobs? Here’s the sad story of a corrupt governor bowing to political pressure and screwing his own constituents in Upstate…
    Read More “Constitution Pipe Denial May Destroy 2K Existing Upstate NY Jobs”

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    DRBC’s Lawless Action to Review PennEast Pipeline Apart from FERC

    drbc_logo_thumb.gifThe Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), charged with overseeing potential impacts on the Delaware River and the various tributaries that feed it, has once again stepped outside of its legal bounds. The PennEast Pipeline is a $1 billion, 118-mile pipeline from Luzerne County, PA to Mercer County, NJ–part of it through the Delaware River Basin area. In 2014 the DRBC tried to tell PennEast and its sponsors that the pipeline will need their approval before it can be built (see DRBC Tells PennEast They Need DRBC (Not Just FERC) Approval). There’s just one teeny tiny problem with that–called the U.S. Constitution. The pipeline is permitted solely by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)–not any other agency, including the quasi-governmental DRBC. PennEast told them as much (see PennEast Tells DRBC Not So Fast, FERC has Final Say on Pipeline). But silly little things like laws don’t stop power-mad liberals like those at the DRBC. Last summer FERC, in a bid to be gracious to the libs at DRBC, agreed to hold one joint hearing on the PennEast with the DRBC (see Anti Drillers Demand DRBC Hold 7 Meetings on PennEast Pipeline). The DRBC has decided it will take its marbles and go home. Yesterday the DRBC informed FERC, by letter, that they will no longer participate in the joint hearing with FERC and will, instead, hold their own hearings (plural) on the PennEast. The DRBC is clearly operating outside of its charter. The DRBC news got THE Delaware Riverkeeper titillated…
    Read More “DRBC’s Lawless Action to Review PennEast Pipeline Apart from FERC”

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    NED Not Dead? Kinder Morgan Files for 30 Day Stay, Antis Fret

    Kinder MorganLast week midstream giant Kinder Morgan announced they didn’t have enough demand lined up for their proposed $3.3 billion Northeast Energy Direct (NED) pipeline and so they will suspend any more work on the project (see NED is Dead – Kinder Morgan Suspends $3.3B New England Pipeline). But is it truly dead? After the announcement Kinder Morgan asked both the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Utilities (DPU) for a temporary stay on the project. The stay allows Kinder to formally brief the utility companies that did sign up about their decision. Lack of this pipeline puts some of those companies in a tight spot. The stay also allows relieves Kinder from filing certain responses required by certain deadlines in May. FERC has not yet responded to the stay request, but the DPU has–the DPU granted the stay. All of which kind of rattles the antis. They’re suspicious that Kinder may pull a fast one and revive the project if they let down their guard…
    Read More “NED Not Dead? Kinder Morgan Files for 30 Day Stay, Antis Fret”