Regulation

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | New York | Regulation | Statewide MD | Statewide NY

Antis to Take Frack Ban Campaigns National with NY “Success”
December 18, 2014December 18, 2014

Never ones to let a good disaster go to waste, the odious nutters at Food & Water Watch, a rabidly leftist, anti-drilling organization, are attempting to use the ill-fated decision in New York to ban fracking to try and counter Maryland’s recent decision to allow fracking. You see, Maryland government organizations evaluated fracking just like New York government organizations did–but Maryland’s officials came to a different conclusion. They concluded fracking CAN be done safely. Which doesn’t sit well with the nutters at FWW. So they’ve jumped on the NY decision and are trying to spin it like crazy to pressure Maryland into rethinking its decision to allow fracking…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Gov. Cuomo Kills Prospects for Fracking
December 17, 2014

This is a very sad day for all New Yorkers. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has decided to not proceed with high volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the state. MDN editor Jim Willis has just finished listening to a live announcement in which the State Dept. of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker embarrassed himself by admitting he relied on shoddy rumors and flawed studies–and even lack of studies–to draw the conclusion that fracking should not be allowed. Zucker repeatedly said “there’s not enough research” to convince him that fracking is safe for NY’s human population.

NY’s anti-drilling Commissioner of the Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Joe Martens, then said, essentially, “yep, good enough for me, no fracking” and that was that. Cuomo, acting like the buffoon that he is, then said he has no further role to play in the debate and it’s case closed. How sad and how tragic. The only recourse left is to vote Cuomo out of office, which won’t happen now for another four years. We who live in New York have just been royally screwed by our governor. No wonder this state is dead last in jobs, economy, and every other important measure. No wonder people are leaving the state in droves. We predict it’s a trend that will only accelerate with this decision.

More on NY’s decision tomorrow. This is just a quick note to alert you.
Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Marshall County | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Dominion Fined $55K for Run-off in WV Creeks
December 17, 2014December 17, 2014

Dominion Transmission has agreed to pay $55,470 in fines for violating the West Virginia Water Pollution Control Act. The fines are the result of WV Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) investigations that started in November of 2012. The DEP investigated “slips” or slopes restored after Dominion dug trenches to lay pipeline. The slopes were not restored properly and sediment and erosion ended up in area creeks. Dominion is required to fix the creeks and pay the fine…
Read More “Dominion Fined $55K for Run-off in WV Creeks”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Anti-Drillers Ramp Up the Rhetoric, Demand Cuomo Delay Again
December 17, 2014December 17, 2014

As New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo nears a decision to allow fracking (what other decision can there be?), anti-drillers are once again becoming more shrill. Especially anti-drillers who also hold public office–they’re the worst of the lot–total nutjobs who want to deny property rights to the citizens they supposedly represent. Even though we now have over 200,000 horizontally fracked shale wells, many of which are right across the border in Pennsylvania, and a multitude of scientific studies, the call goes forth again (from NY anti-drillers) that Cuomo should delay a decision. In other words–no drilling is acceptable to the unreasonable anti-driller. Not now, not ever. So the antis are ramping up the rhetoric ahead of a decision they fear will go against them…
Read More “NY Anti-Drillers Ramp Up the Rhetoric, Demand Cuomo Delay Again”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Maryland Gets Ready to Frack! Gov O’Malley Files New Regulations
December 16, 2014December 16, 2014

You’ll be hard pressed to find a reference to some of the most important news over the past four years when it comes to Maryland and fracking–but it happened last Friday when Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley filed a copy of draft regulations to be printed in the next edition of the Maryland Register. What does it mean? It means once the rule is published, after a certain period of time it goes into effect and the moratorium on shale drilling in the state will be lifted. This is truly momentous news and the only source talking about it (so far) is the odious Food & Water Watch…
Read More “Maryland Gets Ready to Frack! Gov O’Malley Files New Regulations”
Health Impacts | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Research | Statewide NY

NY Gov Cuomo Teases (Again) Health Report Ready “This Year”
December 16, 2014December 16, 2014

Once again New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is being a tease with regard to the fracking issue. Question is, do we believe him this time? Or is this yet another empty promise? During this fall’s single/only gubernatorial debate, Cuomo was asked about the fracking issue and he said a report from the state Dept. of Health on the fracking issue is due by the end of this year (now two weeks away). At the time, his harried campaign staff ran around after that off-the-cuff remark to “explain” what he really meant by it (see Cuomo Staff Explains “End of Year” Deadline for Frack Report). It’s all about managing expectations, and if you’re a Democrat, managing stupid voters (witness comments by Jonathan Gruber and how he and others hookwinked stupid voters to sell passage of Obamacare). Yesterday in a radio interview, Cuomo once again mentioned the fracking health report and said it is “on time” for delivery THIS year. That caught the eye of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York…
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Accidents | Blue Ridge Mtn Res/Magnum Hunter | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Monroe County | Ohio | Regulation | Triad Hunter

ODNR Weighs in on Triad Hunter Well Blowout in Monroe County, OH
December 16, 2014December 16, 2014

Yesterday MDN brought you news that Triad Hunter had a well blowout in Monroe County, OH at their Stalder 3UH well (see Triad Hunter Well Blowout in Monroe County, OH – No One Injured). We have a brief update from the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources on that incident…
Read More “ODNR Weighs in on Triad Hunter Well Blowout in Monroe County, OH”
Butler County | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | XTO

PA DEP Issues “Cease & Desist” Notice to XTO in Butler County, PA
December 15, 2014December 15, 2014

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) says XTO Energy never applied for or received a permit to push dirt around to create a truck access area near a planned drill pad in Butler County, PA. So the DEP has issued a “cease and desist” order to XTO. Unless and until they get permission (Mother May I?), XTO has five days to patch it up and re-seed it or throw mulch over it to prevent erosion…
Read More “PA DEP Issues “Cease & Desist” Notice to XTO in Butler County, PA”
Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide OH

ET Rover Pipeline’s 800-Mile Journey Begins with FERC Filing
December 15, 2014December 15, 2014

Energy Transfer Partners plans to build an 800-mile, $4.4 billion pipeline that will connect the Marcellus and Utica Shale region to Canada (see ET Rover Pipeline Fully Subscribed, Project Scope Revised Up). The pipeline will connect Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio and cross the Buckeye State going northwest before entering Michigan and eventually taking a dog-leg into Ontario (see the map embedded below). These kinds of projects take multiple years to complete–with many steps. On Friday, ET filed their draft Resource Reports of environmental survey data with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). It’s one of the first steps on an 800-mile journey…
Read More “ET Rover Pipeline’s 800-Mile Journey Begins with FERC Filing”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Regulation | Statewide OH

OH House Bill 490 in Trouble – Frack Chemical Data for 1st Responders
December 11, 2014December 10, 2014

This is the ongoing saga of Ohio House Bill 490, a Hail Mary comprehensive omnibus bill that would tackle a number of issues, including fixing reporting rules that restore access to a database of chemicals used at various drilling sites to first responders (their access was taken away by anti-drillers last year, see OH Antis Force Change in Chemical Reporting, Everyone Less Safe). The ODNR wants new language in HB 490 to fix the problem, but the language passed, once passed through politicians’ hands, turned from gold into lead (see OH Senate Asked to Fix Language in Frack Chemical Reporting Bill). Although the Senate is trying to plug all of the holes in 490, it looks like the good ship 490 is about to sink…
Read More “OH House Bill 490 in Trouble – Frack Chemical Data for 1st Responders”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

SRBC Hums Along – Approves 17 New Water Withdrawal Projects
December 11, 2014December 10, 2014

You just have to admire the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. They meet, they get things done. Decisions are made, regulations updated, projects approved (or not). And a great many of the things they deal with are related to Marcellus Shale drilling in Pennsylvania. Contrast that to the Delaware River Basin Commission where there is no Marcellus Shale drilling–where the DRBC has an ongoing dysfunction when it comes to shale drilling. At any rate, last week the SRBC met again and a whole list of items got completed, including 17 applications for water withdrawals…
Read More “SRBC Hums Along – Approves 17 New Water Withdrawal Projects”
Industrywide Issues | NGLs | Regulation

ND Regulators Pass Rule Making Bakken Crude by Rail Safer
December 11, 2014December 10, 2014

For some time MDN has written and highlighted articles about Bakken Shale crude oil that gets to market largely on railroads. The short version of the story is this: Bakken crude contains a lot of NGLs (natural gas liquids), like ethane, butane, propane. The NGLs make the crude more ignitable and flammable if there’s an accident. And there’s always an accident–at some point in some place. A number of Bakken crude trains run through New York State and of course NY’s anti-drillers object (what don’t they object too?). We’ve heard lovely metaphors and analogies like “bombs on rails” and “death trains.” On Tuesday, the North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) met and passed a controversial measure to fix the problem. Starting April 1st, oil companies will have to strip out most of the NGLs before the oil is loaded onto railcars. Of course that won’t appease anti-drillers, but it will make communities through which the trains pass safer than they are now…
Read More “ND Regulators Pass Rule Making Bakken Crude by Rail Safer”
Air Quality | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

Clock Ticking for Comment on EPA Rule on Greenhouse Gas Reporting
December 11, 2014December 10, 2014

Two weeks ago MDN gave E&P and midstream companies a heads-up that another onerous new “rule” (i.e. law) is coming from the out-of-control Obama Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that requires energy companies to file greenhouse gas emissions reports for just about everything–wellpads, pipelines, compressor stations (see EPA Issues New Rules for O&G Industry on GHG Emissions Reporting). A whole new level of reporting is coming at you. On Tuesday the EPA published their proposed rule change in the Federal Register (copy below)…
Read More “Clock Ticking for Comment on EPA Rule on Greenhouse Gas Reporting”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Washington County

MarkWest Builds/Operates Compressor Station w/o Building Permit
December 10, 2014December 10, 2014

Hmmm. Here’s a story we don’t like to report, and fear there’s more to the story than we now know, but report it we must. MarkWest Energy, arguably the largest and most important midstream (pipelines & processing plants) company in the Marcellus and Utica Shale, was denied a building permit to construct a building to house several natural gas compressors in West Alexander (Donegal Township, Washington County), PA–but they went ahead and built it anyway, without the permit. The rogue compressor station is now up and running but has to use generators to supply power because the town won’t let them hook up electric since they’re still in violation of the building permit…
Read More “MarkWest Builds/Operates Compressor Station w/o Building Permit”
Anadarko | Chesapeake Energy | Citrus | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

DOL Action: Several Marcellus Drillers Pay $4.5M in Back Wages
December 10, 2014December 10, 2014

In a multi-year so-called “investigation” that cost more money that was “recovered,” the U.S. Dept. of Labor (DOL) announced yesterday they’ve forced Chesapeake Energy, Citrus Energy and Anadarko Petroleum (and perhaps others) to pay $4.5 million in back wages to some 5,300 oil and gas workers in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The apparent “violation” is that these workers, working for subcontractors (not directly for the energy companies themselves), in some cases worked more than 40 hours in a given week but didn’t get time-and-a-half wages. We’re certainly not against playing by the rules, but it sure seems like utter folly to hype this as some sort of victory by Obama’s Labor Department–to work for more than two years and come up with a thimble-full of violations and carp and complain about how fractured the energy industry is–the same industry that, because of all those many subcontractors, has generated several hundred thousands new jobs in PA & WV that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. Here’s the press release by the DOL…
Read More “DOL Action: Several Marcellus Drillers Pay $4.5M in Back Wages”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

New Wrinkle in NY: Towns Must Pass Zoning Laws to Allow Fracking
December 9, 2014December 9, 2014

Anti-drilling former “reporter” for the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, Tom Wilber, is back with an insightful article in the P&SB. Wilbur highlights an issue just now coming to light for residents in New York. Earlier this year the New York Court of Appeals (NY’s highest court) made a disastrous ruling that allows townships to ban fracking (see Shale Drilling in NY is Over – High Court Upholds Town Bans). The continuing sliver of hope for NY landowners is that Gov. Andrew “can’t make up his mind” Cuomo will make up his mind, lo these 6 years later, and allow fracking to take place. The thinking has been that the fight (for anti-drillers) will now focus on attempting to get town boards to enact a ban–something not likely to happen in places most likely to drill. Wilber’s article points out a big, fat problem with that thinking: the high court’s decision in July did a lot more than just allow towns to ban drilling. In light of the July decision, towns with zoning ordinances (almost all towns in NY) must specially allow drilling–or it can’t take place by default…
Read More “New Wrinkle in NY: Towns Must Pass Zoning Laws to Allow Fracking”