Drilling Santa Fe

New Mexico judge halts pit rule appeals

2012-01-11T07:20:00.001-07:00

Susan Montoya Bryan | The Associated Press

"ALBUQUERQUE — A state district judge on Tuesday sided with New Mexico's oil and gas industry, putting on hold legal appeals related to efforts by the industry to revamp rules for handling drilling and production wastes.

The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association had asked for the appeals process to be halted so the state Oil Conservation Commission could tackle the so-called pit rule administratively.

The commission has scheduled a weeklong hearing later this month to address the industry's proposed changes to the rule, but environmentalists are seeking to stop the proceeding. " More>>>>

EPA: Fracking may cause groundwater pollution

2011-12-08T17:19:00.003-07:00

By Mead Gruver, Associated Press

"CHEYENNE, Wyo. – CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday for the first time that fracking — a controversial method of improving the productivity of oil and gas wells — may be to blame for causing groundwater pollution.

The draft finding could have significant implications while states try to determine how to regulate the process. Environmentalists characterized the report as a significant development though it met immediate criticism from the oil and gas industry and a U.S. senator." More>>>>

Debate over fracking heats up

2011-11-17T09:09:00.003-07:00

SANTA FE (KSFR)

"Fracking debate before state Oil and Gas Commission

SANTA FE -- As the issue becomes talked about more and more, industry has moved to start talking about it publicly. The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association is taking part in a nationwide program conducted by the industry to disclose the chemical compounds in fracking fluids. When the initiative came up this past summer, Steve Henike of the state industry group says they want the Oil and Gas Commission to approve disclosure of fracking compounds after a well is drilled. But Doug Micklejohn of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center says disclosure should take place before, not after, the fact. " Listen>>>>

Supreme Court refuses to hear renewable fuel case

2011-11-07T11:19:00.001-07:00

Market Pulse Archives

Nov. 7, 2011, 1:07 p.m. EST

By Steve Gelsi

"NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a request from the oil and chemical industry to strike down the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA); as well as the American Petroleum Institute submitted a petition in July for the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case." More>>>

Cuadrilla Resources confirms that fracking caused earthquakes

2011-11-07T08:31:00.002-07:00

Reuters
"LONDON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Shale gas exploration triggered small earthquakes near Blackpool in northwest England earlier this year, UK firm Cuadrilla Resources said, adding to concerns about the safety of a technology that is transforming U.S. energy markets." More>>>>

Senator wants debate on pipeline safety bill

2011-09-28T19:32:00.002-06:00

CBS/AP

"(AP) WASHINGTON — The only senator opposed to a bill to toughen federal safety regulation of oil and gas pipelines said Wednesday he's willing to work with Senate leaders to schedule a debate on the measure, but he's still blocking expedited passage.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who is philosophically opposed to federal regulation, also blamed Democratic leaders for the Senate's failure to act on the measure, saying they could have scheduled a debate and vote on the bill at any time."...

..."The bill is supported by the industry's major trade associations — the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, the American Gas Association and the Association of Oil Pipelines — as well as the Pipeline Safety Trust, a safety advocacy group."...

..."Paul's actions show he is "blinded by ideology" and "indifferent to the overwhelming evidence that self-regulation of the gas industry is a prescription for further death and injury," Speier said in a statement." More>>>>

New York fracking lawsuit could set drilling precedent

2011-09-19T20:05:00.000-06:00

Reuters

Mon Sep 19, 2011 7:04pm EDT

"* Anschutz Exploration files suit against town of Dryden

* Unincorporated town amended zoning to bar gas drilling

* State department has recommended end to NY drilling ban

By Dan Wiessner

ALBANY, NY, Sept 19 (Reuters) - A lawsuit challenging a small town's ban on natural-gas drilling could have implications throughout New York state, where officials are poised to approve a controversial drilling method known as fracking.

Privately held Anschutz Exploration Corp filed suit on Friday against Dryden, a rural suburb of Ithaca with about 13,000 residents that last month amended its zoning laws to bar all gas drilling within its unincorporated borders.

New York's Department of Environmental Conservation has recommended ending a year-long ban on drilling in New York, although a public comment period on the rules was extended this month following concerns that fracking contaminates underground wells and aquifers.

The Anschutz suit, which asks the state Supreme Court in Tompkins County to invalidate the amendment, is the first to test the legal implications of the state's move.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves cracking open rocks deep underground with a blast of sand, water and chemicals to unleash natural gas and oil.

Anschutz, which controls more than 22,000 acres in Dryden, said New York's Environmental Conservation Law bars local governments from any regulation of drilling." More>>>>

Gold Firm Loses Lease

2011-09-04T09:48:00.010-06:00

Albuquerque Journal North
Mark Oswald
Sept. 4, 2011

"A company with plans to mine for gold in the Ortiz Mountains southeast of Madrid says in a lawsuit that it has a better chance of getting the necessary approvals now that New Mexico has a governor with “a pro-business stance.” Also, the Albuquerque-based Santa Fe Gold Corp. says in a federal court complaint, Santa Fe County’s “politically liberal” population may be more willing to support mining operations these days, because of the jobs it could bring during the recession’s economic hard times.

But Santa Fe Gold Corp. has lost the lease to explore for and mine gold and other minerals on about 43,000 acres of the Ortiz Mine Grant.

On Tuesday, the mining company filed suit accusing mineral rights owner Ortiz Mines Inc., of Kansas of breach of contract.

The lawsuit also reveals that Santa Fe Gold – despite losing the lease – has already obtained a state “general mining permit” for preliminary work at the Ortiz Mountain site, issued Aug. 19.

The state Mining and Minerals Division provided a copy of the permit this week. It grants conditional approval for a year for a “mining disturbance” not to exceed two acres consisting of “collecting rock samples by hand and baseline environmental data collection.”

Santa Fe Gold obtained a seven-year mineral lease with Ortiz Mines in 2004 and made the deal public in 2008. Santa Fe Gold says in its lawsuit that it has made $753,224 in lease payments so far.

But Ortiz Mining served notice in June that it was terminating the lease, citing concerns about Santa Fe Gold’s effort to move the project forward."...

..."The suit goes on to note the current poor economy and record-high gold prices and says the “public fervor over Tecton’s plans to drill for oil and gas has largely abated.”

“While the population of Santa Fe County is politically liberal, current economic conditions make it more likely that public support can be generated for support of the Ortiz Project,” the suit states.

No county application"... More (subscription or trail pass required)>>>>

Mineral Rights Questions Crop Up at Meeting

Santa Fe County Model Mining Ordinance Under Attack

"Gold claims draw skepticism"

Santa Fe Gold Corporation to Mine the Ortiz?

"Santa Fe Gold eyes mining in the Ortiz Land Grant" - KSFR

Energy Secretary signals green light likely for XL Pipeline

2011-09-02T10:20:00.004-06:00

Nebraska StatePaper.com

"U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu is saying nice things about the controversial sand tar oil pipeline that TransCanada wants to run across the Nebraska Sandhills and over the Ogallala Aquifer.

It is a clear signal that the Obama administration is likely to let TransCanada build the XL Pipeline that would / will run from Alberta across several states to the Gulf Coast of Texas."

More>>>>

BP Can Deny It All They Want But That Looks Like Oil Again At Deepwater

2011-09-02T10:15:00.001-06:00

Business Insider

"Somehow the fact BP hired 40 ships to lay booms around the growing slick at the Deepwater site slipped past most media attention early last week.

The Tallahassee Examiner reports that on top of the 40 Vessels of Opportunity hired to contain the renewed spill, BP assigned two of its own vessels to the location. The Helix Producer 1 is an oil production ship able to manage 45,000 barrels of oil a day, and the Helix Express carries an underwater construction vessel."

U.S. to Slash Marcellus Shale Gas Estimate 80%

2011-08-24T15:06:00.001-06:00

Bloomberg
By Jim Efstathiou Jr. and Katarzyna Klimasinska - Aug 23, 2011 2:17 PM MT

"The U.S. will slash its estimate of undiscovered Marcellus Shale natural gas by as much as 80 percent after a updated assessment by government geologists.

The formation, which stretches from New York to Tennessee, contains about 84 trillion cubic feet of gas, the U.S. Geological Survey said today in its first update in nine years. That supersedes an Energy Department projection of 410 trillion cubic feet, said Philip Budzik, an operations research analyst with the Energy Information Administration.

“We consider the USGS to be the experts in this matter,” Budzik said in an interview. “They’re geologists, we’re not. We’re going to be taking this number and using it in our model.”

The revised estimates, posted on the agency’s website, are likely to spur a debate over industry projections of the potential value of shale gas." More>>>>

Fracking might have caused Colorado/New Mexico Area Quakes

2011-08-24T09:21:00.003-06:00

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/ksfr/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1843949

Listen at KSFR

"SANTA FE, Aug. 23 -- Following a succession of earthquakes near New Mexico's northern border, geology professor Rick Astor of New Mexico Tech says one possibility for the "swarm" of quakes in that area is the prevalance of energy drilling there.

He says faults inside the earth have stress and often can slip. "Earthquakes could be induced if the fault's frictional properties are altered by the injection of (fracking) fluids."'

60 Minutes: "A look at the world's new corporate tax havens"

2011-08-15T09:55:00.004-06:00

60 Minutes
August 14, 2011

"(CBS News)

Our government is in knots over ways to lower the federal budget deficit. Well, what if we told you we found a pot of money - over $60 billion a year - that could be used to help out?

That bundle is tax money not coming in to the IRS from American corporations. One major way they avoid paying the tax man is by parking their profits overseas. They'll tell you they're forced to do that because the corporate 35 percent tax rate is high in relation to other countries, and indeed it seems the tax code actually encourages companies to move businesses out of the country.

Tax havens: Do companies pay their fair share?
"60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl talks tax havens and the new ways American companies are stashing their profits abroad.

Companies searching out tax havens is nothing new. In the 80s and 90s, there was an exodus to Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, where there are no taxes at all.

When President Obama threatened to clamp down on tax dodging, many companies decided to leave the Caribbean, but as we first told you in March, instead of coming back home, they went to safer havens like Switzerland.

Several of these companies came to a small, quaint medieval town in Switzerland called Zug.

Hans Marti, who heads Zug's economic development office, showed off the nearby snow-covered mountains. But Zug's main selling point isn't a view of the Alps: he told Lesley Stahl the taxes are somewhere between 15 and 16 percent.

"And in the United States it's 35 percent," Stahl pointed out.

"I know. It's half price," Marti said.

Marti told Stahl that Zug most probably has the lowest tax rates in Switzerland.

"So you're kind of a tax haven within a tax haven?" she remarked.

"Maybe, yes," he acknowledged.

The population of the town of Zug is 26,000; the number of companies in the area is 30,000 and growing at an average rate of 800 a year. But many are no more than mailboxes.

Texas Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett questions whether the recent moves of several companies are legit. "A good example is one of my Texas companies that's been in the news lately, Transocean," Rep. Doggett told Stahl.

Transocean owned the drilling rig involved in the giant BP oil spill. They moved to Zug two years ago.

Extra: Benefits of bringing back cash
Extra: How to shift profits

"I'm not sure they even moved that much. They have about 1,300 employees still in the Houston area. They have 12 or 13 in Switzerland," Doggett told Stahl.

"And yet they claim that they're headquartered over there," Stahl remarked.

"They claim they're Swiss. And they claim they're Swiss for tax purposes. And by doing that, by renouncing their American citizenship, they've saved about $2 billion in taxes," Doggett explained.

Stahl and "60 Minutes" decided to visit their operations in Zug.

A woman at the door told Stahl, "At the moment my boss is not here."

She said her boss wasn't there and we should call someone halfway around the world, in Houston.

"But this is the headquarters," Stahl remarked.

"I know," the woman said.

When asked if the CEO was there or is normally at the Zug office, the woman said "No."'

Produced by Shachar Bar-On

Link>>>>

Gas Fracking Poses Serious Environmental Risks, U.S. Panel Finds

2011-08-11T10:36:00.000-06:00

Bloomberg
By Jim Efstathiou Jr. - Aug 11, 2011 9:23 AM MT

"Natural-gas companies risk causing serious environmental damage from hydraulic fracturing unless they commit to the best engineering practices, a task force named by Energy Secretary Steven Chu concluded.

Regulations to protect public health will work best when drillers embrace techniques that avoid “undesirable consequences,” according to a draft report today by a subcommittee of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board. The increased use of fracturing, or fracking, which forces water and chemicals into rock, raises the potential for a “serious problem,” the panel found.

The report offered recommendations for companies involved in fracking, such as Chesapeake Energy Inc. and Southwestern Energy Co. (SWN), to follow, and guidelines for state regulators that oversee drilling.

“While many states and several federal agencies regulate aspects of these operations, the efficacy of the regulations is far from clear,” according to the report. “Effective action requires both strong regulation and a shale-gas industry in which all participating companies are committed to continuous improvement.”

The Environmental Working Group in Washington, which advocates for clean air and water, questioned the findings of a panel it said was dominated by the gas industry. The Independent Petroleum Association of America in Washington, which represents oil and gas companies, said the report marks “a useful starting point,” for discussions." More>>>>

New Mexico Oil and Gas Association proposes rule for disclosing makeup of fracking fluids

2011-08-09T14:39:00.000-06:00

SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press

"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Looking to avoid the criticism that has dogged energy producers in other states, a New Mexico industry group introduced a proposal Monday that would require drilling companies to be more transparent when it comes to using hydraulic fracturing fluids to extract oil and gas." More>>>>

EPA takes hard line on PNM power plant pollution

2011-08-06T22:17:00.001-06:00

(2011-08-05)

SANTA FE (KSFR) -
"In a victory for environmentalists, the EPA is going to require that PNM reduce nitrogen oxide emissions at its four-corners generating station by 80 percent. The company and the state had both recommended a 20 percent reduction.

The EPA is giving PNM two additional years to meet the requirement at its 40-year-old, coal-fired San Juan power plant. It must complete the work in five years instead of the three-year period that had been discussed.

PNM says the EPA plan will cost upwards of $750 million while the company's alternative would have cost about 10 percent of that amount. PNM says customers may well have to shoulder the costs.

PNM says it plans to appeal the decision."

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/ksfr/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1837032/KSFR.Local/EPA.takes.hard.line.on.PNM.power.plant.pollution

Board eyes greenhouse-gas rules

2011-08-03T09:33:00.001-06:00

Environmentalists decry decision to reopen hearings

Jeri Clausing | The Associated Press

"ALBUQUERQUE — A state board appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez agreed Monday to consider repealing greenhouse-gas regulations opposed by her administration, utilities and oil and gas companies.

The Environmental Improvement Board scheduled a series of public hearings beginning Nov. 8 on the rules, which were put in place under former Gov. Bill Richardson.

Martinez calls the carbon controlling rules a "cap and tax" and included them on a list of Richardson-era environmental regulations that she has targeted as hampering business growth in the state.

Public Service Company of New Mexico and others had gone to court seeking to overturn the rules. The state Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court agreed recently to let the parties take the issue back to regulators for consideration.

The decision to reopen hearings on the matter raised the ire of environmentalists, who have accused Martinez's administration of secretly colluding with polluters by holding meetings with the plaintiffs in the lawsuit in an effort to move the case out of the courts and back under the administration's control. " More>>>>

Enviros win voice in carbon battle

2011-07-28T10:25:00.001-06:00

Court: Groups can intervene in feud over emissions rules repeal

Susana Montoya Bryan | The Associated Press
Posted: Wednesday, July 27, 2011

"The New Mexico Supreme Court on Wednesday cleared the way for environmental groups to intervene in an ongoing legal battle over whether the state should regulate greenhouse-gas emissions.

Attorneys for the groups said the justices' unanimous decision will ensure that proponents of the regulations will have a seat at the table if courts have to determine the fate of the state's carbon emissions policies. " More>>>>

Showdown in Tierra Amarilla

2011-07-27T08:23:00.006-06:00

Land Grant Committee (interim) meeting tomorrow regarding the Tierra Amarilla Land Grant mineral rights issue:

Details from the Rio Grande Sun:

"The state legislature’s interim Land Grant Committee scheduled a meeting beginning at 10 a.m. July 28 at the Abiquiú Community Center. The meeting aims to address various land grant issues, focusing on the Tierra Amarilla Land Grant mineral rights issue at 1:45 p.m. Wells, the president of the Board, is scheduled to testify."

The rest of the story:

"Oil company's quiet deal with Land Grant sparks anger, internal mistrust"

By Andrew Kasper
SUN Staff Writer

Published:

Thursday, July 21, 2011 10:08 AM MDT

"After news of a questionable buyout and controversial plans to drill for oil on the Tierra Amarilla Land Grant became public, oil man Jack Steinhauser stepped into the lion’s den.

He visited Tierra Amarilla July 13 and stood before a group of agitated and confused Land Grant heirs and attempted to explain his plans to drill on land that belonged to their ancestors, while also trying to clarify how a $233,000 payment that was intended for the entire Land Grant ended up in the hands of just three Board members — without the rest of the members’ knowledge.

The payment was in exchange for a 2008 legal promise, or waiver, by the Land Grant that none of the members would pursue a future claim to the oil Steinhauser and his company, Wind River Energy, are poised to extract from 93,000 acres in northern Rio Arriba County and southern Colorado." More>>>>

Governor considers replacement of state's top water official

2011-07-20T10:05:00.000-06:00

Staci Matlock | The New Mexican

"The governor's staff is once again looking for candidates for the state's top water job.

Current State Engineer John D'Antonio, confirmed under former Gov. Bill Richardson, is welcome to reapply for the job, said Scott Darnell, a spokesman for Gov. Susana Martinez.

"No decision has been made to replace Mr. D'Antonio, but the Governor wants to ensure that a wide range of options are considered before selecting a permanent State Engineer," Darnell said via email."...

..."Hernandez said he was told he was part of a search committee. "They called us individually and asked us to submit names by today (Monday)," Hernandez said. "I was the first one called, so I assumed I would head the committee."

Darnell, however, said no formal search committee has been formed. "We are asking for input from people throughout the state who are familiar with the critical water issues facing New Mexico ... ," Darnell said. "Unlike the transition, this is not a formal search committee; rather, it is an effort to cast a wide net and be inclusive in seeking a full range of options regarding the State Engineer's Office. We have reached out to a number of individuals and groups seeking their input, ranging from farmers, business people, and even the New Mexico Environmental Law Center."

Douglas Meiklejohn, executive director of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, confirmed the organization was asked to submit names for state engineer. "We respectfully declined to be involved in that process," he said, also declining to comment on why.

Meiklejohn also declined to comment on whether or not he thought D'Antonio should be replaced. " More>>>>

Environment Department official resigns after bureau move

2011-07-20T08:56:00.001-06:00

Staci Matlock | The New Mexican

"A top official with the state Environment Department resigned Tuesday morning, a day after the bureau overseeing Los Alamos National Laboratory's compliance with hazardous-waste regulations was moved from his division.

It was one more shake-up in a department that's seen more than a few in the last six months."...

..."The decision to move the bureau was made by Environment Department Secretary F. David Martin and Deputy Secretary Raj Solomon. They did not respond to questions regarding Davis' departure.

People familiar with the situation, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, said the decision to yank the bureau from Davis' division was the final straw in a string of disagreements he had with the new administration. They believe the change was prompted by a recent notice of violation that Davis' division was pursuing against LANL for failing to meet some terms of the consent decree. A LANL spokesman confirmed there was a notice of violation, with fines proposed, but the spokesman referred questions to the Environment Department.

Gov. Susana Martinez made it clear in the first week of her administration that she intended to do away with any policies she deemed unfriendly to business. The Environment Department rapidly became a focus of her attention. The administration set out to undo or overturn new rules and regulations, from green-building codes to greenhouse-gas emissions, which officials said were detrimental to industry." More>>>>

MOODY'S PLACES RATINGS OF FIVE OF 15 Aaa STATES ON REVIEW FOR POSSIBLE DOWNGRADE DUE TO U.S. SOVEREIGN RISK VULNERABILITY

2011-07-19T12:21:00.007-06:00

Deregulation of the financial industry set the table for the financial crisis. As deregulation continues to be proffered for budget woes, such as for oil and gas drilling, the following Moody's warning is something to keep an eye on and to keep in mind as part of the many unfolding consequences of financial deregulation.

"APPROXIMATELY $24 BILLION OF RATED DEBT AFFECTED; HIGH FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT AND MEDICAID EXPOSURE CITED

New York, July 19, 2011 -- Moody's Investors Service has placed on review for possible downgrade the Aaa ratings of the states of Maryland, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. In connection with Moody's July 13 action placing the Aaa government bond rating of the United States on review for downgrade, Moody's announced that it would assess the ratings of Aaa-rated states to gauge their sensitivity to sovereign risk. The review actions affect a combined $24 billion of general obligations and related debt.

Should the U.S. government's rating be downgraded to Aa1 or lower, these five states' ratings would likely be downgraded as well. Moody's will review the ratings of the five states on a case-by-case basis and announce any rating actions within seven to ten days following a sovereign action."...

..."NEW MEXICO

• Sensitivity to national economic trends compared to other Aaa-rated states based on Moody's Economy.com measure of employment volatility due to U.S. fluctuations: Below average

• Federal employees as a percentage of the state's total employment: Above average

• Capital markets risk: Relatively high due to above average amount of puttable variable rate debt outstanding

• Federal procurement contracts as a percentage of state gross domestic product: Above average

• Medicaid as a percentage of total expenditures: Above average

• Available fund balance as a percentage of operating revenue: Above average" More>>>>

Big US Banks Ate Everyone's Lunch: Strategist

BP slips up again

2011-07-18T09:59:00.000-06:00

MarketWatch Blogs

"In a fresh challenge for BP PLC’s BP effort to clean up its act, up to 4,200 gallons of oil-containing fluids leaked from a BP pipeline during a pressure test at its Lisburne oil field in Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay, according to reports over the weekend. The Anchorage Daily reported that local officials said the ground shook from the force of the line break. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. estimated the spill size at 2,100 to 4,200 gallons of methanol and other fluids, including crude oil." More>>>>

The World Factbook: Natural gas - proved reserves

2011-07-15T09:21:00.004-06:00

Central Intelligence Agency

An excerpt from The World Factbook:

"This entry is the stock of proved reserves of natural gas in cubic meters (cu m). Proved reserves are those quantities of natural gas, which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions." Link >>>>

Top ten:

"1 Russia 47,570,000,000,000

2 Iran 29,610,000,000,000

3 Qatar 25,470,000,000,000

4 Turkmenistan 7,504,000,000,000

5 Saudi Arabia 7,461,000,000,000

6 United States 6,928,000,000,000

7 United Arab Emirates 6,071,000,000,000

8 Nigeria 5,246,000,000,000

9 Venezuela 4,983,000,000,000

10 Algeria 4,502,000,000,000"

Exxon exec says doesn’t know Montana spill’s cause

2011-07-14T13:28:00.001-06:00

By Molly Born

"WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — An Exxon Mobil executive on Friday told a House committee that the firm had met all regulatory standards even as the company takes full responsibility for an oil spill that dumped an estimated 42,000 gallons of crude into Montana’s Yellowstone River this month."...

..."Tester, a Democrat, appeared before the House pipelines subcommittee to make a statement at the beginning of the hearing and said Exxon needs greater regulation. In this case, Exxon was tasked with regulating itself and now “we’re paying a price for it,” he said.

“Does that sound familiar?” Tester said. “Wall Street had no regulators either and it lead to the collapse of our nation’s economy.”...More>>>>

"Battle for Brooklyn"

2011-07-14T13:18:00.005-06:00

“BATTLE FOR BROOKYLN,”
THE STORY OF ONE NEIGHBORHOOD’S FIGHT AGAINST THE CONTROVERSIAL ATLANTIC YARDS PROJECT at The SCREEN

August 25th directors in attendance

Santa Fe:

For showtime:

The Screen

Movie website

Report: Natural Gas Insiders Question Feasibility, Profitability of Industry

2011-06-27T13:57:00.001-06:00

DemocracyNow!

"Newly disclosed figures and internal documents are raising fresh doubts about natural gas drilling in the United States. According to the New York Times, well-placed financial analysts and experts have circulated warnings about the feasibility and profitability of drilling in shale gas wells across the nation. An August 2009 memo from the firm IHS Drilling Data says, “The word in the world of independents is that the shale plays are just giant Ponzi schemes and the economics just do not work.” Earlier this year, an analyst at PNC Wealth Management compared natural gas projects to the dot-com boom, saying, “money is pouring in” even though drilling is “inherently unprofitable.” In another memo, a retired geologist for a major oil giant writes, “These corporate giants are having an Enron moment… They want to bend light to hide the truth.” A review of more than 9,000 wells shows many wells are failing to meet industry projections, with just 10 percent recouping their estimated costs after seven years. Just 20 percent of wells in three highly regarded shale formations in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas are believed to actually be profitable. The previously undisclosed data could raise questions about whether companies are illegally inflating claims about the size and productivity of their wells. A former Enron executive who went on to work for an energy company compared the behavior of shale gas firms to his former employer, writing, “I wonder when they will start telling people these wells are just not what they thought they were going to be?”' Link>>>>

2011-06-27T13:55:00.002-06:00

The New York Times

By IAN URBINA

Published: June 26, 2011

..."In scores of internal e-mails and documents, officials within the Energy Information Administration, or E.I.A., voice skepticism about the shale gas industry.

One official says the shale industry may be “ set up for failure.” “It is quite likely that many of these companies will go bankrupt,” a senior adviser to the Energy Information Administration administrator predicts. Several officials echo concerns raised during previous bubbles, in housing and in technology stocks, for example, that ended in a bust."... More>>>>

Firm says deal with land grant opens area to drilling

2011-06-13T19:46:00.002-06:00

Tom Sharpe | The New Mexican
Posted: Sunday, June 12, 2011

"A Canadian firm says it has a deal with a land-grant association that could open up parts of Rio Arriba County to petroleum drilling that previously were restricted by questionable land titles.

Wind River Energy Corp. says it has agreements with the board of trustees of the Tierra Amarilla Land Grant that could mean billions of barrels of oil, mostly from shale deposits that require "fracking."

"Wind River believes that the waiver will resolve a 150-year-old historical title cloud that has constrained oil and gas development on the Tierra Amarilla Land Grant," a recent news release says.

The Vancouver, British Columbia-based company has issued three news releases since late last year, announcing it has acquired from a Texas firm a waiver and an indemnification agreement with the Tierra Amarilla Lane Grant board, which was paid $233,979.

Wind River's Denver-based president and chief executive officer, Jack Steinhauser, said the news releases are public disclosures required by the regulations of the Toronto Venture Exchange, where Wind River's stock is traded." More

"Gasland" Screening in Santa Fe

2011-06-01T10:44:00.008-06:00

"On Tuesday, June 21st at 7:00 p.m...." "...a screening of Gasland at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe with the event's cosponsors: Conservation Voters New Mexico, Drilling Mora County and representatives from several organizations who are opposing fracking in New Mexico. And after the event, we will have a panel discussion that will feature representatives from these organizations and our Executive Director, Wenonah Hauter who will discuss our national efforts to ban fracking. Come early to chat with us and learn what you can do to make a difference.

RSVP and spread the word today!
https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1185/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=69644

Hope to see you there

Sam Schabacker
Senior Organizer
Food & Water Watch
sam(at)fwwatch(dot)org"

Tuesday, 6/21, 7-9 pm
Center for Contemporary Arts
Moving Image Lab
1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe, 87505
Google map

Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer organization that works to ensure clean water and safe food. We challenge the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources by empowering people to take action and by transforming the public consciousness about what we eat and drink."

Posting hiatus continues

2011-05-17T16:37:00.001-06:00

The posting hiatus will continue for a while.

Until posting resumes, it is hoped that all is well.

Posting Break

2011-03-21T08:16:00.003-06:00

Until about the 1st of May, there will be a break in posting.

See you in the Spring!

Summary of 2011 NM legislative session

2011-03-20T18:18:00.000-06:00

The Associated Press

"A summary of developments in the Legislature's 60-day session, which ended Saturday.

Gov. Susana Martinez has until April 8 to sign or veto bills passed during the final stretch of the session.

ENERGY-ENVIRONMENT(equals)

Passed: Governmental task force to investigate natural gas outages; create energy conservation bonds; tax credit for biofuels produced from algae; expand scope of cost cap for utilities in meeting with renewable energy requirements; update abandoned mine reclamation law to remain eligible for federal funding; Renewable Energy Transmission Authority bonding changes.

Failed: Invalidate state regulations on greenhouse gas emissions; allow severance tax fund investments in New Mexico renewable energy projects; tax credit for converting vehicles to run on natural gas; define ownership rights in underground pore space that can be used for storage of carbon dioxide." More>>>>

Biggest radioactive spill in U.S. history was in New Mexico (Listen again)

2011-03-18T16:20:00.001-06:00

"Biggest radioactive spill in U.S. history was in New Mexico (Listen again)

(2011-03-18)

SANTA FE (KSFR) -
Follow KSFR News on Twitter and on Facebook.
Subscribe to KSFR News Podcasts.

As concern in the U.S. continues over the nuclear-reactor crisis in Japan, what few remember is that the biggest radioactive spill in U.S. history happened right here in New Mexico.

Listen.

© Copyright 2011, KSFR" Link>>>>

Charting the Human Cost of Different Types of Energy

2011-03-18T16:18:00.000-06:00

by Nicholas Kusnetz and Marian Wang
ProPublica, March 18, 2011, 4:25 p.m.

"Since this time last year, we’ve seen a deadly mine disaster [1], the worst oil spill in U.S. history [2], and now a nuclear crisis in Japan [3]. That got us wondering—how does one compare or quantify the human cost of different sources of energy?

As it turns out, a Swiss research organization, the Paul Sherrer Institute, has been doing just that. Using data from the institute, we pulled together a few visualizations." More>>>>

States ask Supreme Court to dismiss utility-emission case

2011-03-14T15:16:00.002-06:00

E&E News

Lawrence Hurley, E&E reporter

"Connecticut and five other states seeking to persuade the Supreme Court to allow greenhouse gas emissions to be regulated via federal common law have suggested the justices should avoid deciding the case and instead send it back to a lower court.

In their final brief filed in American Electric Power v. Connecticut, the states maintain their position that greenhouse gas emissions can be regulated as a "public nuisance" under federal common law.

But they say that the court should wait to see what happens to the ongoing efforts by U.S. EPA to regulate emissions before deciding the issue.

The states point in particular to the recent settlement in which EPA agreed to set new greenhouse gas limits for refineries and power plants (Greenwire, Dec. 23, 2010).

That announcement came several weeks after the Supreme Court decided to hear the case, which is due to be argued April 19." More>>>>

Environmental, construction rules top targets of state task force

2011-03-14T07:22:00.004-06:00

Staci Matlock | The New Mexican

3/13/2011

"A task force established by Gov. Susana Martinez to review the impact of state regulations on small businesses has focused narrowly on environmental and construction rules, with an eye toward some major overhauls.

A "mid-point report" sent by the task force Feb. 18 to the governor's chief of staff, Keith Gardner, noted the group's review would focus on rules and regulations in the state Environment, Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources, and Game and Fish departments. The task force will "determine the best approach to rescind or revise the troublesome rules/regulations," according to the report.

The task force, which has met twice, noted that environment and construction are two areas "in which industries have been significantly and economically affected by rules and regulations." The task force is to make a full, formal report to Martinez by April 1.

So far, no one interviewed from the task force or asked to comment on the group's work has publicly produced anything concrete about how specific environmental and construction rules impact small businesses. "...

..."The task force is focusing on the revised pit rule for oil and gas waste, now 2 years old; a 5-year-old enforcement and compliance rule for oil and gas wells; and new building codes, among other things.:...

..."The report notes "the task force does not wish to present a laundry list of problems to the Governor but develop solutions. The goal is to provide the Governor and/or agencies cover when repealing or revising a rule or regulation thus avoiding litigation if possible."

The pit rule, first approved in 2003 and amended in 2008 and 2009, requires oil and gas producers to contain the waste products from drilling in a lined pit or a closed loop system from which the waste is hauled to a licensed facility. The updated rule in 2008 came after more than a year of public hearings, analysis of well samples near drilling operations and a report by a task force of representatives from state agencies, environmental groups, and the oil and gas industry. Former Gov. Bill Richardson ordered the rule amended after oil prices fell and the industry asked for help.

The oil and gas industry has maintained the rule has chased out well drillers and is too expensive to meet, statements not borne out by the level of drilling and production that has occurred in the last year around the state." More>>>>

Related posts:

Clearly New Mexico Feb 24 Are You Sitting Down? Here Are The Recommendations From The Gov’s “Small Business-Friendly” Task Force

Public Records Request Shows Gov’s “Small Business-Friendly Task Force” Met In Secret; Is Packed With Lobbyists for Oil and Gas, Mining and Dairy

Mexico, Canada eye imports of U.S. shale gas

2011-03-11T11:46:00.000-07:00

Nathanial Gronewold, E&E reporter

"HOUSTON -- The United States' North American neighbors are considering importing U.S. natural gas to meet their burgeoning electricity needs.

Mexico's chief energy minister said yesterday that his nation is carefully eyeing the U.S. revolution in shale gas production to help fuel Mexico's fast-growing economy.

Mexico's new development of renewable energy resources and fossil-fuel power is not occurring fast enough to meet the growth, the energy minister, José Antonio Meade, told a major energy industry conference here. The U.S. shale gas boom and the potential for exporting U.S. drilling technologies has been a dominant theme at the gathering (Greenwire, March 10).

"Because of the new technology advances in terms of generating shale gas, now this continent is one of the cheapest in terms of using gas for generating electricity," Mede said. "Mexico, I think, is in a good position to take advantage of that."' More>>>>

Republicans Urge More Energy Production

2011-03-11T10:09:00.002-07:00

The New York Times
The Caucus
March 10, 2011, 2:01 pm

By CARL HULSE

"Is “drill, baby, drill” about to make a comeback?

With gas prices soaring, Congressional Republicans are clamoring for more domestic energy production, echoing the theme of an impromptu 2008 protest when Republicans occupied the floor of the House during the summer recess to demand that Congress lift a ban on drilling off of much of the nation’s coastline.

At a press conference on Thursday, Speaker John A. Boehner said Republicans were moving ahead with an umbrella initiative that would seek to spur more domestic energy production and end federal policies he said were contributing to rising gas costs.

“Through the American Energy Initiative, we will work to help lower gas prices, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and create new jobs,” Mr. Boehner said." More>>>>

PA Governor Gives Energy Executive Supreme Authority Over Environmental Permitting

2011-03-11T10:03:00.000-07:00

by Abrahm Lustgarten , Nicholas Kusnetz and Joaquin Sapien
ProPublica, March 9, 2011, 10:50 p.m.

"Pennsylvania has come under fire lately as pollution from drilling in the Marcellus Shale threatens water resources across the state. But instead of ratcheting up oversight, Gov. Tom Corbett wants to hand authority over some of the state’s most critical environmental decisions to C. Alan Walker, a Pennsylvania energy executive with his own track record of running up against the state’s environmental regulations.

Walker, who has contributed $184,000 to Corbett’s campaign efforts since 2004, is CEO and owner of Bradford Energy Company and Bradford Coal, which was once among Pennsylvania’s largest coal mining companies. He also owns or has an interest in 12 other companies, including a trucking business and a central Pennsylvania oil and gas company." More>>>>

Another One Of Those Small Business-Friendly Tactics?

2011-03-09T18:23:00.002-07:00

Clearly New Mexico

By Tracy Dingmann

"A bill that would bar the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board from making any greenhouse gas rules that are more stringent than federal law is making its way through Senate committees.

The bill, SB 489, sponsored by Clinton Harden, (R-Clovis), would not reverse the two carbon cap proposals that were approved in the waning days of the Richardson Administration. Those proposals drew strong opposition from the oil and gas industry and from Gov. Susana Martinez, who vowed during her campaign to reverse them if elected governor.

(A few weeks ago, Clearly New Mexico learned that Gov. Martinez had appointed a Small Business-Friendly task force filled with representatives of the oil and gas industry and other large corporate interests to evaluate regulations like the carbon caps. The group made it clear that rolling back regulations was their number one priority, and discussed a number of strategies to accomplish this that included legislation, executive orders, and other tactics.)

Though SB 489 wouldn’t reverse the current caps, it would severely hamper New Mexico’s ability to protect its environment in the future, opponents say.

Friends of the Environment Oppose It" More>>>>

Wyoming Air Pollution Worse Than Los Angeles Due To Gas Drilling

2011-03-09T18:20:00.000-07:00

The Huffington Post

"CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Wyoming, famous for its crisp mountain air and breathtaking, far-as-the-eye-can-see vistas, is looking a lot like smoggy Los Angeles these days because of a boom in natural gas drilling.

Folks who live near the gas fields in the western part of this outdoorsy state are complaining of watery eyes, shortness of breath and bloody noses because of ozone levels that have exceeded what people in L.A. and other major cities wheeze through on their worst pollution days." More>>>>

NM governor nominates Bemis to head energy agency

2011-03-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

Associated Press - March 8, 2011 7:25 PM ET

"SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Gov. Susana Martinez has nominated an assistant commissioner at the State Land Office to serve as head of the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

Martinez says John Bemis' experience in overseeing energy development at the Land Office makes him a qualified candidate.

Bemis joined the State Land Office in 2003 and has served as assistant commissioner for oil, gas, and mineral resources since 2004. He previously worked as senior attorney for the Farmington region at Burlington Resources, Inc." More>>>>

NM House Bills 297 & 422

2011-03-08T08:11:00.003-07:00

CVNM: Protect New Mexico Twitter:

HB297, which would jeopardize groundwater quality passes the House 48-20.
HB422, the anti-cultural property bill, passed with no recommendation out of House Energy & Natural Resources 8-4.

NM SB 421 Tabled

2011-03-08T07:38:00.003-07:00

Email from Jerry

"A substitute bill for SB 421 was tabled by the Senate Judiciary Committee at about 9:50 pm last evening. Many thanks to all who helped make that happen."

See:

Oil-slick sleight of hand

2011-03-07T11:42:00.001-07:00

Email from Kim:

"Hello friends

I wish there were an easier more predictable way for use to make ourselves heard, but here’s the update:

HB 422 and SB 421, the twin bill s that would allow mineral rights owners absolute veto over State historic listing of any property or district, did NOT get heard last week.

If you haven’t contacted legislators to oppose these, there is still time, especially for SB 421. See earlier e-mails for phone numbers.

If there’s any chance of attending a hearing, here is the most current info:

HB 422 is one of 4 bills up in front of House Energy & Natural Resources, (Egolf’s committee). They will meet Monday the 7^th at 8:30 am, different room than usual: room 309.

The good news is that with the early schedule, they can be counted on to meet when they say.

SB 421 will be in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. They meet in Room 321, “at 2:30 or half an hour after the main Senate floor session ends”. It is one of 14 bills on their agenda.

I spent Friday from 2:30 till 6:00 when the committee actually convened, and then found they’d dropped 421 from the day’s agenda. It’s frustrating, but if you can spare the time, our voices are needed.

You may have seen the New Mexican editorial about how Bratton’s Brats (the HENRC GOP) maneuvered HB 297 (weakening the Oil Conservation Division) past HENRC using technicalities, contrived absences, and quorum manipulation. Read the editorial, then call or e-mail to express your disapproval and ask Reps to oppose it on the floor of the House.

We’re all getting tired, but only 13 more days to go. Do whatever you can, please.

Kim"

Link to editorial>>>>

Pressure Limits Efforts to Police Drilling for Gas

2011-03-04T11:13:00.003-07:00

The New York Times

By IAN URBINA

Published: March 3, 2011

" When Congress considered whether to regulate more closely the handling of wastes from oil and gas drilling in the 1980s, it turned to the Environmental Protection Agency to research the matter. E.P.A. researchers concluded that some of the drillers’ waste was hazardous and should be tightly controlled.

Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times

Carol M. Browner, left, the E.P.A. administrator in the Clinton administration, has argued both for and against exemptions for the oil and gas industry.

Drilling Down

An Agency's Limits

Articles in this series examine the risks of natural-gas drilling and efforts to regulate this rapidly growing industry.

Complete Series »

Questions, additional information or related tips can be sent to urbina@nytimes.com.

Left, Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press; Stephen Crowley/The New York Times

In its efforts to oppose new federal regulations, the oil and gas industry found allies in Senator James M. Inhofe, left, and Senator Tom Coburn, Republicans from Oklahoma.

But that is not what Congress heard. Some of the recommendations concerning oil and gas waste were eliminated in the final report handed to lawmakers in 1987.

“It was like the science didn’t matter,” Carla Greathouse, the author of the study, said in a recent interview. “The industry was going to get what it wanted, and we were not supposed to stand in the way.”

E.P.A. officials told her, she said, that her findings were altered because of pressure from the Office of Legal Counsel of the White House under Ronald Reagan. A spokesman for the E.P.A. declined to comment.

Ms. Greathouse’s experience was not an isolated case. More than a quarter-century of efforts by some lawmakers and regulators to force the federal government to police the industry better have been thwarted, as E.P.A. studies have been repeatedly narrowed in scope and important findings have been removed.

For example, the agency had planned to call last year for a moratorium on the gas-drilling technique known as hydrofracking in the New York City watershed, according to internal documents, but the advice was removed from the publicly released letter sent to New York.

Now some scientists and lawyers at the E.P.A. are wondering whether history is about to repeat itself as the agency undertakes a broad new study of natural gas drilling and its potential risks, with preliminary results scheduled to be delivered next year.

The documents show that the agency dropped some plans to model radioactivity in drilling wastewater being discharged by treatment plants into rivers upstream from drinking water intake plants. And in Congress, members from drilling states like Oklahoma have pressured the agency to keep the focus of the new study narrow.

They have been helped in their lobbying efforts by a compelling storyline: Cutting red tape helps these energy companies reduce the nation’s dependence on other countries for fuel. Natural gas is also a cleaner-burning alternative to coal and plentiful within United States borders, so it can create jobs.

But interviews with E.P.A. scientists, and confidential documents obtained by The New York Times, show long and deep divisions within the agency over whether and how to increase regulation of oil and gas drillers, and over the enforcement of existing laws that some agency officials say are clearly being violated.

Agency lawyers are heatedly debating whether to intervene in Pennsylvania, where drilling for gas has increased sharply, to stop what some of those lawyers say is a clear violation of federal pollution laws: drilling waste discharged into rivers and streams with minimal treatment. The outcome of that dispute has the potential to halt the breakneck growth of drilling in Pennsylvania.

The E.P.A. has taken strong stands in some places, like Texas, where in December it overrode state regulators and intervened after a local driller was suspected of water contamination. Elsewhere, the agency has pulled its punches, as in New York.

Asked why the letter about hydrofracking in the New York City watershed had been revised, an agency scientist involved in writing it offered a one-word explanation: “politics.”

Natural gas drilling companies have major exemptions from parts of at least 7 of the 15 sweeping federal environmental laws that regulate most other heavy industries and were written to protect air and drinking water from radioactive and hazardous chemicals.

Coal mine operators that want to inject toxic wastewater into the ground must get permission from the federal authorities. But when natural gas companies want to inject chemical-laced water and sand into the ground during hydrofracking, they do not have to follow the same rules.

The air pollution from a sprawling steel plant with multiple buildings is added together when regulators decide whether certain strict rules will apply. At a natural gas site, the toxic fumes from various parts of it — a compressor station and a storage tank, for example — are counted separately rather than cumulatively, so many overall gas well operations are subject to looser caps on their emissions.

An Earlier Reversal

The E.P.A. also studied hydrofracking in 2004, when Congress considered whether the process should be fully regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act.

An early draft of the study discussed potentially dangerous levels of contamination in hydrofracking fluids and mentioned “possible evidence” of contamination of an aquifer. The report’s final version excluded these points, concluding instead that hydrofracking “poses little or no threat to drinking water.”

Shortly after the study was released, an E.P.A. whistle-blower said the agency had been strongly influenced by industry and political pressure. Agency leaders at the time stood by the study’s findings.

Next Page »"

Art Cashin On The Worrisome String Of Earthquakes Rattling The State Of Arkansas

2011-03-04T08:05:00.001-07:00

Business Insider
Joe Weisenthal

..."The other concern is that the Arkansas quakes may be the result of man made activity. In particular, some think they may be triggered by hydraulic fracturing or “fracking”, a practice used to extract natural gas and even oil from sub-surface shale deposits. If a link between “fracking” and the Arkansas quakes is found, it could lead to bans around the nation. Could be very important." More>>>>

'We intend to do our jobs' on fracking, EPA chief vows

2011-03-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

E&E News

Gabriel Nelson and Mike Soraghan, E&E reporters

"Put on the defensive by a new report claiming that U.S. EPA scaled back its study of the potential health threats of natural gas drilling in response to pressure from industry, Administrator Lisa Jackson insisted today on Capitol Hill that she won't let politics trump science.

A series published this week in The New York Times has investigated federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing, a technique that has opened up massive reserves of natural gas across the country. EPA is planning to launch a two-year study on the environmental and health impacts of the process, but some areas of study that were suggested by agency scientists were stripped from the final research plan because of pressure from the oil and gas industry, according to an article published today (Greenwire, March 3).

Tomorrow, Jackson is headed to Pennsylvania, one of several states that sit on top of the vast, gas-filled rock formation known as the Marcellus Shale, she told members of the House Appropriations Committee during a hearing on the agency's budget today.

She described the meeting with federal officials at EPA's regional office in Philadelphia as an effort to understand the "state of play" at the Region 3 headquarters, which has been at the center of the controversy. Despite what several agency attorneys and scientists told the Times, the agency is committed to sound science, Jackson said.

"I need to speak to the professionals out in the Philly office and ensure that they hear from the top of this organization that there is no 'Look the other way, stand down,'" she said. "We intend to do our jobs."' More>>>>

Dish sues gas firms over compressor stations

2011-03-03T13:20:00.001-07:00

Star-Telegram

By Bob Cox

rcox@star-telegram.com

"The small town of Dish, which has previously sparred with natural gas drillers over its water quality, also thinks natural gas compressor stations are an unsightly and perhaps dangerous nuisance that harm local property values.

The town makes those complaints in a lawsuit filed Monday in District Court in Denton County against six natural gas pipeline companies.

The suit calls a complex of compressor stations that the companies operate near the town "a public nuisance." It also alleges that the compressor stations have harmed the emotional and financial well-being of the community, which is southwest of Denton.

Fort Worth lawyer Kirk Claunch, who is representing the town, filed the lawsuit and two others on behalf of 10 landowners. The suits claim that landowners and the town are entitled to collect monetary damages from the gas companies because of diminished property values.

The mere presence of the compressor stations, the truck traffic they generate and the potentially dangerous air pollutants constitute trespass on Dish residents' property and "makes it less desirable to live in that area," Claunch said Wednesday. Compressor stations typically employ huge engines to drive pumps to move natural gas through the big pipelines.

"The reality of it is, if people that live close to these facilities want to leave, they can't because of the decline in property values," Claunch said.

Ed Ireland, executive director of the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council, an industry supported group, said he had not seen the suits and declined to comment on the specific allegations." More>>>>

High drama as film tax credit cap passes

2011-03-03T08:07:00.002-07:00

Trip Jennings | The New Mexican

An interesting excerpt:

"Several attempts to change the $45 million limit were made. But every amendment suggested was voted down, including one that would have raised the limit to $60 million and another sponsored by Santa Fe Democrat Brian Egolf. Egolf's amendment would have made the adoption of the $45 million film limit contingent on the state's reduction to the same level — $45 million — of the amount of tax breaks New Mexico gives each year to the oil and gas industry. " More>>>>

America's 10 Most Toxic Cities

2011-03-02T11:41:00.003-07:00

Forbe's
Morgan Brennan, 02.28.11

"During the Revolutionary War Philadelphia served as one of America’s first capital cities. These days, however, Philadelphia could be considered the capital of toxicity, since the city and its environs ranked No. 1 on our 2011 Most Toxic Cities list. One big reason: The sprawling Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), including parts of four states (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and one county in Maryland), is pocked with more than 50 Superfund sites---areas no longer in use that contain hazardous waste.

While the East Coast metro, with its old industrial sites, grabbed the top spot, California metropolitan areas claimed four of the 10 spots on our Most Toxic list, primarily due to the chronic air quality problem known as smog." More>>>>

In Pictures: America's 10 Most Toxic Cities

Wastewater Recycling No Cure-All in Gas Process

2011-03-02T11:18:00.002-07:00

The New York Times
by Ian Urbina
Published: March 1, 2011

"As drilling for natural gas started to climb sharply about 10 years ago, energy companies faced mounting criticism over an extraction process that involves pumping millions of gallons of water into the ground for each well and can leave significant amounts of hazardous contaminants in the water that comes back to the surface.

Drilling Down

An Imperfect Solution

Articles in this series examine the risks of natural-gas drilling and efforts to regulate this rapidly growing industry.

Questions, additional information or related tips can be sent to urbina@nytimes.com.

Multimedia

INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC: Chemicals and Toxic Materials That Come With Hydrofracking

Documents: Politics, Recycling and Tracking of Natural Gas Waste

Drilling Down: Regulation Lax as Gas Wells’ Tainted Water Hits Rivers (February 27, 2011)

Jessica Kourkounis for The New York Times

Carl Orso checked the progress as he offloaded wastewater from a natural gas drilling site at Eureka Resources, a wastewater treatment facility, in Williamsport, Penn.

So, in a move hailed by industry as a major turning point, drilling companies started reusing and recycling the wastewater." More>>>>

Regulation Lax as Gas Wells’ Water Hits Rivers

2011-02-26T17:44:00.004-07:00

The New York Time

By IAN URBINA

Published: February 26, 2011

"Drilling Down

The Waste Problem

Articles in this series will examine the risks of natural-gas drilling and efforts to regulate this rapidly growing industry.

Multimedia

Natural Gas and Polluted Air

Interactive Feature

Extracting Natural Gas From Rock

Interactive Feature

Toxic Contamination From Natural Gas Wells

Interactive Feature

Documents: Natural Gas's Toxic Waste

Spreadsheet: Contaminants in Samples From More Than 200 Wells (Microsoft Excel File)

Todd Heisler/The New York Times

Thousands of wells like this one outside Pittsburgh extract gas by injecting huge amounts of water.

Readers' Comments

Share your thoughts or ask the reporter a question.

Post a Comment »

The gas has always been there, of course, trapped deep underground in countless tiny bubbles, like frozen spills of seltzer water between thin layers of shale rock. But drilling companies have only in recent years developed techniques to unlock the enormous reserves, thought to be enough to supply the country with gas for heating buildings, generating electricity and powering vehicles for up to a hundred years.

So energy companies are clamoring to drill. And they are getting rare support from their usual sparring partners. Environmentalists say using natural gas will help slow climate change because it burns more cleanly than coal and oil. Lawmakers hail the gas as a source of jobs. They also see it as a way to wean the United States from its dependency on other countries for oil.

But the relatively new drilling method — known as high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking — carries significant environmental risks. It involves injecting huge amounts of water, mixed with sand and chemicals, at high pressures to break up rock formations and release the gas.

With hydrofracking, a well can produce over a million gallons of wastewater that is often laced with highly corrosive salts, carcinogens like benzene and radioactive elements like radium, all of which can occur naturally thousands of feet underground. Other carcinogenic materials can be added to the wastewater by the chemicals used in the hydrofracking itself.

While the existence of the toxic wastes has been reported, thousands of internal documents obtained by The New York Times from the Environmental Protection Agency, state regulators and drillers show that the dangers to the environment and health are greater than previously understood.

The documents reveal that the wastewater, which is sometimes hauled to sewage plants not designed to treat it and then discharged into rivers that supply drinking water, contains radioactivity at levels higher than previously known, and far higher than the level that federal regulators say is safe for these treatment plants to handle.

Other documents and interviews show that many E.P.A. scientists are alarmed, warning that the drilling waste is a threat to drinking water in Pennsylvania. Their concern is based partly on a 2009 study, never made public, written by an E.P.A. consultant who concluded that some sewage treatment plants were incapable of removing certain drilling waste contaminants and were probably violating the law.

The Times also found never-reported studies by the E.P.A. and a confidential study by the drilling industry that all concluded that radioactivity in drilling waste cannot be fully diluted in rivers and other waterways.

But the E.P.A. has not intervened. In fact, federal and state regulators are allowing most sewage treatment plants that accept drilling waste not to test for radioactivity. And most drinking-water intake plants downstream from those sewage treatment plants in Pennsylvania, with the blessing of regulators, have not tested for radioactivity since before 2006, even though the drilling boom began in 2008.

In other words, there is no way of guaranteeing that the drinking water taken in by all these plants is safe.

That has experts worried.

“We’re burning the furniture to heat the house,” said John H. Quigley, who left last month as secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “In shifting away from coal and toward natural gas, we’re trying for cleaner air, but we’re producing massive amounts of toxic wastewater with salts and naturally occurring radioactive materials, and it’s not clear we have a plan for properly handling this waste.”

The risks are particularly severe in Pennsylvania, which has seen a sharp increase in drilling, with roughly 71,000 active gas wells, up from about 36,000 in 2000. The level of radioactivity in the wastewater has sometimes been hundreds or even thousands of times the maximum allowed by the federal standard for drinking water. While people clearly do not drink drilling wastewater, the reason to use the drinking-water standard for comparison is that there is no comprehensive federal standard for what constitutes safe levels of radioactivity in drilling wastewater.

Drillers trucked at least half of this waste to public sewage treatment plants in Pennsylvania in 2008 and 2009, according to state officials. Some of it has been sent to other states, including New York and West Virginia.

Yet sewage treatment plant operators say they are far less capable of removing radioactive contaminants than most other toxic substances. Indeed, most of these facilities cannot remove enough of the radioactive material to meet federal drinking-water standards before discharging the wastewater into rivers, sometimes just miles upstream from drinking-water intake plants.

Next Page »"

Hydrofracked? One Man’s Mystery Leads to a Backlash Against Natural Gas Drilling

2011-02-25T11:00:00.001-07:00

by Abrahm Lustgarten
ProPublica, Feb. 25, 2011, 6 a.m.

"This story was published as part of Amazon's Kindle Singles program, and is available for reading [1] on that device. ProPublica's first Kindle Single,"Pakistan and the Mumbai Attacks: The Untold Story," is also available [2].

There are few things a family needs to survive more than fresh drinking water. And Louis Meeks, a burly, jowled Vietnam War hero who had long ago planted his roots on these sparse eastern Wyoming grasslands, was drilling a new well in search of it.

The drill bit spun, whining against the alluvial mud and rock that folds beneath the Wind River Range foothills. It ploughed to 160 feet, but the water that spurted to the surface smelled foul, like a parking lot puddle drenched in motor oil. It was no better — yet — than the water Meeks needed to replace.

Meeks used to have abundant water on his small alfalfa ranch, a 40-acre plot speckled with apple and plum trees northeast of the Wind River Mountains and about five miles outside the town of Pavillion. For 35 years he drew it clear and sweet from a well just steps from the front door of the plain, eight-room ranch house that he owns with his wife, Donna. Neighbors would stop off the rural dirt road on their way to or from work in the gas fields to fill plastic jugs; the water was better than at their own homes.

But in the spring of 2005, Meeks’ water had turned fetid. His tap ran cloudy, and the water shimmered with rainbow swirls across a filmy top. The scent was sharp, like gasoline. And after 20 minutes — scarcely longer than you’d need to fill a bathtub — the pipes shuttered and popped and ran dry." More>>>>

A temporary reprieve for New Mexico's common sense drilling rules

2011-02-25T10:28:00.001-07:00

OGAP

"Submitted by Gwen Lachelt on Thu, 02/24/2011 - 15:11

New Mexico’s Pit Rule got a reprieve yesterday as State District Court Judge Barbara Vigil is considering sending industry’s appeal up to the State Court of Appeals. Due to substantial public interest in the Pit Rule (the importance of oil and gas to New Mexico’s economy, the Oil Conservation Commission considering extensive technical evidence and hundreds of hours of conservation, legal and industry time committed and expended in the process of developing the Pit Rule) sending the case to the higher court may be a logical next step because of the statewide importance of oil and gas. Judge Vigil will make a final ruling in mid-May after ruling on OGAP’s appeal of Governor Richardson’s rollbacks of the Pit Rule’s chloride standards. Richardson’s decision, made behind closed doors with industry nine months after the Pit Rule was adopted, allows wastes 13 times more toxic to be buried on well sites.

Earthworks' OGAP is represented in the case by Eric Jantz with the New Mexico Environmental Law Center.

For more information on New Mexico's Common Sense Drilling Protections: newmexicocommonsense.org" Link>>>>

Clearly New Mexico Feb 24 Are You Sitting Down? Here Are The Recommendations From The Gov’s “Small Business-Friendly” Task Force

2011-02-25T08:58:00.003-07:00

Clearly New Mexico
By Tracy Dingmann

...The Mid-Point Report

"Our request turned up one particularly fascinating document – a “mid-point report” dated Feb. 18 that, based on its unguarded language, was decidedly not intended to be shared outside the Gov’s office.

From the preamble:

“The task force does not wish to present a laundry list of problems to the Governor but develop solutions (sic). The goal is to provide the Governor and/or agencies cover when repealing or revising a rule or regulation thus avoiding litigation if possible.

The final report to the Governor will include a road map of short and long-term tactics and strategies, including the use of executive orders and legislative strategies. Each troublesome regulation identified will be accompanied by a recommendation on the best way to remove their negative impacts (sic).”

The report says the task force decided to focus on two areas of regulation: construction and the environment. Specifically, the task force wants to focus on regulations in the Environment Department, the Energy, Natural Resources and Minerals Department and the Division of Game and Fish, as they are “having the most impact on economic development and the will determine (sic) the best approach to rescind or revise the troublesome rules/regulations.”

Singled out as examples of “onerous legislation” are the “Pit Rule” and the “Enforcement and Compliance Rule,” both of which apply to and have been extremely unpopular with the oil and gas industry in New Mexico.

Here’s what else is in the report:..." More>>>>

New Mexico Environmental Law Center Twitter

2011-02-24T14:55:00.005-07:00

Check out the NMELC Twitter updates. See link in the top right-hand corner of the Drilling Santa Fe site.

Public Records Request Shows Gov’s “Small Business-Friendly Task Force” Met In Secret; Is Packed With Lobbyists for Oil and Gas, Mining and Dairy

2011-02-24T14:53:00.001-07:00

Clearly New Mexico

By Tracy Dingmann

"When Susana Martinez assumed the office of Governor on Jan. 1, she faced a clear choice. Would she protect New Mexico’s clean land, water and air by fighting to keep environmental regulations strong – or would she instead focus her energies on stalling, relaxing and eliminating regulations for certain wealthy, mostly out-of-state industries who contributed generously to her campaign?

New Mexico’s new Governor chose the latter course. Minutes after she took office, Gov. Martinez issued an executive order that halted all pending or proposed rules and regulations for 90 days and created a “Small Business-Friendly Task Force” to evaluate the rules for their “workability and reasonableness and (to) determine whether they are proper and necessary.” During the next 90 days, she said, the task force would decide which rules hampered small businesses in New Mexico.

Details were scarce about how Gov. Martinez defined “small business,” but in her State of the State speech, she spoke of wanting to help “mom and pop shops:”

“The big corporations have teams of lawyers and accountants to help them. It’s the small businesses – the mom and pop shops – the small start ups that get lost in the layers of red tape. We will help them, and in doing so, send a loud and clear message that New Mexico is open for business.”

At the 45-day mark with no word from the Governor, we started to wonder – How was that “Small Business-Friendly Task Force” coming along? Who’s on it, and when has it met? What has it discussed and what kind of changes is it looking to recommend?

We asked the Governor’s office nicely, but got nowhere, so we were forced to file an Inspection of Public Records request to get the answers. (More about that later). More>>>>

Protesters file motion to dismiss Augustin Plains Ranch LLC's applicatio to drill dozens of wells

2011-02-24T08:02:00.003-07:00

El Defensor Chieftain
Written by T.S. Last

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 06:00

"Opponents of Augustin Plains Ranch LLC's proposal to drill dozens of wells near Datil and pump massive amounts of groundwater from the San Agustin Basin have filed motions with the Office of the State Engineer to have the application thrown out.

Though hundreds have protested the application, just two motions to dismiss were filed before the Feb. 11 deadline.

"We try to consolidate them in an attempt to somewhat streamline the positions or motions," said Jess Ward, District 1 supervisor for the Water Rights Division of the Office of the State Engineer.

The motions to dismiss came from attorneys Steven Hernandez and Samantha Barncastle, on behalf of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, and Bruce Frederick and Douglas Meiklejohn of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, which is representing approximately 80 of the protesters.

In addition to the motions to dismiss, the OSE reported that a supplemental pleading titled "Claimants' Brief in Opposition to the Validity/Specificity of Application Specifications" from attorney Ron Shortes of Pie Town was received Feb. 15.

Shortes filed the pleading on behalf of the Board of Catron County Commissioners, himself, Shortes XX Ranch, Walkabout Creek Ranch and Sandra Carol Coker and Ronald Goecks.

Shortes said in a phone interview on Tuesday that his filing simply reinforced what the other attorneys had written in their motions to dismiss.

"Quite frankly, all I'm doing is affirming that they did a good job and that I agree with what they're saying," he said. "They are obviously very good water lawyers, and what they did was very good."

Frederick, a staff attorney for the Environmental Law Center, summed up the argument against the application in a press release last week.

"The application has to be thrown out, because it is so vague and speculative that the State Engineer can't evaluate or approve it," he said." More>>>>

Tax incentive for oil and gas blocked … by Republicans

2011-02-21T17:11:00.001-07:00

Ideology first?

Capitol Report
Posted by rnikolewski in News on February 21st, 2011

"Here’s a switch:

A bill that was enthusiastically supported by a former president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Assocation (NMOGA) was stalemated Monday (Feb. 21) in the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee – not by Democrats, but by Republicans.

House Bill 444, sponsored by Speaker of the House Ben Luján (D-Nambé), would establish an incentive for oil and gas producers to use what’s called a “closed loop system” to dispose of waste created during drilling operations, which eliminates the need to dig a pit to deposit drill cuttings and other debris.

Former NMOGA president Bob Gallagher wrote a glowing endorsement of HB444 in an opinion piece that ran in Sunday’s Santa Fe New Mexican. “This bill would send a signal to the oil-and-gas industry across the country that New Mexico is open for business and wants and needs those capital dollars that have gone to other states in the past few years,” Gallagher wrote. “It would also proclaim to the environmental community that New Mexico is serious about the protection of our environment.”' More>>>>

2011-02-21T17:11:00.000-07:00

Methane gas another threat from BP oil spill

2011-02-21T09:49:00.001-07:00

Herald-Tribune
By Kate Spinner

Published: Monday, February 21, 2011 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 9:06 p.m.

"Methane, the volatile gas that triggered the explosion of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig last April, made up at least a third of the total volume of material discharged into the Gulf of Mexico during the three-month disaster.

More Information:

TOPIC: Oil spill in the Gulf

While the crude oil received all the attention, methane was largely overlooked as a component of the spill, despite its potential to also cause environmental damage.

As scientists try to figure out how much methane was released, the fate of the gas has become somewhat controversial. A report in Nature Geoscience recently tried to estimate the amount of methane released -- 260,000 to 500,000 tons. The research sets a higher figure compared to previous studies, and calls into question earlier assertions that bacteria consumed all the gas released.

By the highest estimates, the burst rig pumped more than 6 million barrels of oil -- about 800,000 tons -- into the Gulf of Mexico between late last April and mid-July, according to the Nature Geoscience report. There are 42 gallons in a barrel.

During the same period, as much as 500,000 tons of gas -- with an energy equivalent of more than 3 million barrels of oil -- may have also escaped into the Gulf of Mexico, based on the well's reservoir capacity.

Methane and other gases released during the spill are a concern because they can disrupt the balance of life in the Gulf, and persist for years in the cold, deep sea environment. In addition to feeding the growth of bacteria, the substance -- which dissolves in water -- can be toxic to sea life.

Scientist finds Gulf bottom still oily, dead

2011-02-21T09:46:00.001-07:00

By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein, Ap Science Writer – Sat Feb 19, 8:53 pm ET

"WASHINGTON – Oil from the BP spill remains stuck on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, according to a top scientist's video and slides that she says demonstrate the oil isn't degrading as hoped and has decimated life on parts of the sea floor.

That report is at odds with a recent report by the BP spill compensation czar that said nearly all will be well by 2012." More>>>>

Pit Rule Appeal Hearing Follow-Up

2011-02-20T12:05:00.002-07:00

From OGAP:

"Last December 10, Judge Vigil heard industry's appeal of the Pit Rule but ran out of time to hear OGAP’s appeal of Richardson's 2009 Pit Rule rollbacks (specifically his repeal of the chloride standard that allows companies to leave and bury highly toxic drilling and fracking wastes on well sites). That hearing is now scheduled for this Wednesday. The judge may also rule on industry’s appeal on Wednesday.

If you are planning to be in Santa Fe this week, please join us at the courthouse!

WHEN:

Wednesday
January [CORRECTION: FEBRUARY] 23, 2011
1:30 p.m.

WHERE:

First Judicial District Court

Catron Street
Santa Fe, NM 87501

http://www.firstdistrictcourt.com/"

Pit Rule Changes Unlikely

GOP amendment bans payments to environmental litigants

2011-02-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

eenews.net

Phil Taylor, E&E reporter

"An amendment to the House's continuing resolution approved last night would impose a six-month freeze on payments to individuals and groups that bring successful lawsuits against the federal government." More>>>>

Government shutdown looms as House passes CR with huge attacks on EPA

2011-02-19T10:22:00.001-07:00

eenews.net

Elana Schor, E&E reporter

"The House passed its short-term government funding measure in the last hours before sunrise today, 235-189, after a final lap of debate that saw lawmakers cross party lines to add extra restrictions on high-profile White House energy and environmental policies.

The House's continuing resolution (CR) is now likely to stall on the other side of the Capitol as Senate Democrats assemble a plan of their own to fund the government beyond March 4, when the existing funding measure expires. House Republicans' indefatigable drive to constrain much of the Obama administration's agenda has ratcheted up the prospects of a government shutdown if leaders in both chambers cannot reach even a short-term agreement on funding." More>>>>

Democratic Sen. Bingaman to Retire

2011-02-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

The Wall Street Journal
By PATRICK O'CONNOR

"Sen. Jeff Bingaman, a New Mexico Democrat, will announce his decision not to pursue a sixth term later Friday, a Democratic aide said.

His decision puts another seat in play for Democrats as the party clings to its slim, six-seat majority in the Senate. Mr. Bingaman, 67 years old, will become the fourth senator aligned with Democrats to not seek re-election, following announcements already this year by Sens. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Jim Webb of Virginia and Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut independent who caucuses with Democrats.

Mr. Bingaman, the chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, was expected to cruise to re-election next year. Republicans quickly seized on reports of his departure as a sign that Democrats in swing states don't like their chances in 2012." More>>>>

Guy Earthquake Swarm: Arkansas Mystery Quakes May Be Result Of 'Fracking' Disposal

2011-02-18T07:59:00.002-07:00

The Huffington Post
SARAH EDDINGTON

"Ausbrooks said geologists are still trying to discover the exact cause of the recent seismic activity but have identified two possibilities.

"It could just be a naturally occurring swarm like the Enola swarm, or it could be related to ongoing natural gas exploration in the area," he said.

A major source of natural gas in Arkansas is the Fayetteville Shale, an organically-rich rock formation in north-central Arkansas. Drillers free up the gas by using hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" – injecting pressurized water to create fractures deep in the ground.

Ausbrooks said geologists don't believe the production wells are the problem, but rather the injection wells that are used to dispose of "frack" water when it can no longer be re-used. The wastewater is pressurized and injected into the ground." More>>>>

Governor's film industry stance bucks biz groups

2011-02-18T07:56:00.001-07:00

Trip Jennings | The New Mexican

"Given the economic pummeling New Mexico has endured, Gov. Susana Martinez repeatedly trumpets the goal of job creation.

But on Thursday she declined to square that priority with her campaign to lower the state's film industry incentives, which some warn would kill small-business jobs in Albuquerque and Santa Fe and throw more New Mexicans out of work. " More>>>>

See post:

New Mexico: Old Economy v. New Economy?

Pit Rule Changes Unlikely

2011-02-15T09:15:00.003-07:00

Journal Staff Writer

"The oil and gas pit rule has been a punching bag for the industry, a rallying cry for gubernatorial candidates and a boogeyman for Oil Patch lawmakers.

But the only action at the Capitol specific to the issue as the 60-day session neared its midpoint was a lunchtime lemonade stand.

There, youngsters handed out free pink drinks Monday with labels warning that without "common-sense" safeguards such as the pit rule, water could contain dangerous contaminants.

No bill has been introduced to overturn the pit rule, which regulates the waste from drilling operations.

First of all, the pit rule issue is tied up in court.

Oil and gas producers sued after the rule was approved, and that challenge is pending in state District Court in Santa Fe.

Also pending — and also before state District Judge Barbara Vigil — is a lawsuit brought by pit rule proponents after state regulators made alterations to the rule that they say rolled back its protections.

Second, there appears to be widespread agreement that legislation is not a feasible way to undo the rules that were enacted administratively, by a state agency." More>>>>

Samba Energy Supports Hertz Solar Program

2011-02-15T07:47:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- "Samba Energy, announced today a 2.3 MW solar program with The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ). This initial program includes solar systems at fifteen Hertz facilities across the U.S. and the largest program to date in the U.S. travel industry." More>>>>

New Mexico: Old Economy v. New Economy?

2011-02-15T07:43:00.002-07:00

Film crew vs. oil patch: Culture, geography create backdrop for fight over film-tax incentives
Trip Jennings | The New Mexican

"Sen. President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, a Roswell Democrat, thinks Santa Fe sometimes forgets there's more to New Mexico than beautiful vistas, tourist attractions and high desert.

For example, there's the oil-and-gas industry, the economic behemoth that extracts minerals from the earth while propping up the state budget through the revenue it generates. " More>>>>

Chevron fined for Amazon pollution by Ecuador court (Unlined Pits)

2011-02-14T18:50:00.001-07:00

BBC

14 February 2011

"A court in Ecuador has fined US oil giant Chevron a reported $8bn (£5bn) for polluting a large part of the country's Amazon region.

The oil firm Texaco, which merged with Chevron in 2001, was accused of dumping billions of gallons of toxic materials into unlined pits and Amazon rivers.

Campaigners say crops were damaged and farm animals killed, and that local cancer rates increased.

Condemning the ruling as fraudulent, Chevron said it would appeal.

The lawsuit was brought on behalf of 30,000 Ecuadoreans, in a case which dragged on for nearly two decades." More>>>>

Bill aims to change way N.M. water rules are made

2011-02-13T08:50:00.001-07:00

Susan Montoya Bryan | The Associated Press

"ALBUQUERQUE — An effort by New Mexico lawmakers to change the way the state adopts rules for protecting water resources is causing concern among environmentalists.

The effort comes just months after the state's Water Quality Control Commission handed environmentalists two major victories — one aimed at establishing tougher rules for the dairy industry and the other putting in place special protections for hundreds of miles of rivers and streams, lakes and wetlands in federal wilderness areas around the state. " More>>>>

House Dems float bill to ax industry tax breaks as spending debate rages

2011-02-10T19:07:00.000-07:00

E&E News

Katie Howell, E&E reporter

"Democrats today continued their push against oil industry tax breaks as Republicans gear up to chop billions of dollars in federal spending.

A group of House Democrats, led by Reps. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, floated a measure this afternoon that would eliminate a number of tax incentives for the oil and gas industry, saying such a move would save $40 billion over five years.

"The oil industry is one of the most profitable industries in the world and does not need help from the government," Blumenauer said in a statement. "With Congress already discussing painful budget cuts that will require American families to make sacrifices, it is only fair that we also stop the handouts to our richest oil companies."' More>>>>

SEN. HARRISON SCHMITT WITHDRAWS NOMINATION TO LEAD STATE’S ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

2011-02-10T18:59:00.001-07:00

News Release:

"State of New Mexico

Office of the Governor

Susana Martinez

Governor

Contact: Scott Darnell

(505) 819-1398

scott.darnell@state.nm.us

For Immediate Release

February 10, 2011

SEN. HARRISON SCHMITT WITHDRAWS NOMINATION TO LEAD STATE’S ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

SANTA FE – Governor Susana Martinez issued the following statement following Senator Harrison Schmitt’s decision to withdraw his nomination to serve as the State’s Secretary of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources:

“Senator Schmitt is a former NASA astronaut who underwent a complete background check by the Department of Public Safety as part of his nomination process.

“Senator Schmitt was willing to allow a private investigator access to his personal information, but he was not willing to waive that investigator’s liability for any improper actions or use of that information. While one can understand Senator Schmitt’s concerns, complying with the Legislature’s request is necessary to restore public confidence in state government. That’s why I am requiring all of my cabinet secretary designees to comply with that request and this has led to Senator Schmitt withdrawing his nomination.

“I wish Senator Schmitt the best in his future endeavors and I will work swiftly to find a qualified replacement to lead New Mexico’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.”'

1 dead, 5 missing after massive Pa. gas blast

2011-02-10T08:57:00.003-07:00

{Image: Rich Schultz / AP: Firefighters battle a blaze sparked by an explosion in Allentown, Pa., that left at least six people unaccounted for.}

msnbc.com staff and news service report

"ALLENTOWN, Pa. — One person was dead and five were missing after a massive natural gas explosion demolished and set fire to homes and sent flames hundreds of feet into the air in eastern Pennsylvania.

Allentown fire Chief Robert Scheirer said the victim lived in a two-story row house that exploded Wednesday night. An elderly couple in their 70s lived in the home, but Scheirer says the condition of the body prevented positive identification.

Five other people were still unaccounted for after the blast that leveled two houses. The cause of the explosion is unclear.

The fire that burned for hours has been put out, and 500 to 600 residents who were evacuated are returning to their homes.

Allentown fire Chief Robert Scheirer said early Thursday that the fire consumed an entire row of homes. He predicted eight will be lost and another 16 damaged." More>>>>

Council votes to ban hydrofracking

2011-02-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

BuffaloNews.com

"The Common Council has voted to ban any form of natural gas extraction in Buffalo, including a controversial mining technique known as hydrofracking.

Ban supporters admit this afternoon's unanimous vote is largely symbolic, given the fact that no "fracking" projects have been proposed in Buffalo. But they insist the ban could be a catalyst in spurring similar actions in municipalities in New York, Pennsylvania and other states where gas-rich Marcellus Shale is located." More>>>>

Texas natural-gas plant ablaze

2011-02-08T14:23:00.003-07:00

{Image, NBC News: "Flames and smoke pour out of a chemical plant Tuesday in Mont Belvieu, Texas."}

NBC News and msnbc.com

"MONT BELVIEU, Texas — Explosions and fire ripped through a Houston-area natural-gas processing plant, leaving one person unaccounted for Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Explosions were heard about 12:15 p.m. at Enterprise Products on Sun Oil Road in Mont Belvieu, about 35 miles east of Houston, NBC station KPRC reported."...

..."Mont Belvieu is a major natural gas storage and processing hub sitting atop a salt dome formation. The natural gas industry stores more volatile hydrocarbons there than anywhere else in the world, NBC News said. The area is like an egg-shaped mound on the coastal prairie.

The nearby community of Barbers Hill, with population 200, was bought out by the industry during the 1990s after a series of explosions at Warren Petroleum.

NBC News cited geologists with the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas saying salt dome storage poses three risks: A pipeline or well may leak and cause an explosion; toxic chemicals stored in the domes could leak into local water supplies; or land and aquifers may be contaminated by salt water left from carving and refilling the caverns." More>>>>

Clean air rules seen adding 1.5 million jobs through 2015

2011-02-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

(Reuters) -"Looming U.S. rules that power utilities face on air pollution could create nearly 1.5 million jobs over the next five years, according to a report." More>>>>

Report details drilling damage to forest

2011-02-08T12:43:00.003-07:00

Charleston Gazette

By Ken Ward Jr.

"CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A natural gas drilling operation in the Fernow Experimental Forest in Tucker County killed dozens of trees, damaged roads and eroded the land, according to a new U.S. Forest Service scientific report.

The report provides one of the most detailed glimpses so far of the potential impacts from the boom in West Virginia's natural gas industry, and offers potential lessons for policymakers and regulators trying to grapple with the growth in drilling.

"It sort of opened our eyes to the issues," said Thomas M. Schuler, an agency forester and one of the report's authors. "This is an issue that is affecting West Virginia, Pennsylvania, parts of the northeast and other parts of the country."' More>>>>

Gas drilling oversight measure rejected in CO

2011-02-08T12:41:00.002-07:00

By KRISTEN WYATT Associated Press

"DENVER—A gas-drilling technique that has raised environmental fears among some won't see more oversight in Colorado after a Republican-led House panel on Monday rejected an idea to step up reporting of water complaints that may be related to drilling.

The measure would have revived annual reports to the Colorado Legislature from the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission on the number of water-quality complaints it received. The measure also would have required state health authorities to report to lawmakers the results of a federal study due out this year on a gas extraction technique called hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking."' More>>>>

Court docs: industry may have helped write Martinez order delaying environmental regulations

2011-02-01T18:15:00.002-07:00

KUNM

Jim Williams (2011-01-27)

"SANTA FE, NM (kunm) - Attorneys for dairy producers crafted language for Gov. Susana Martinez's executive order putting off new environmental regulations, documents related to a Supreme Court case indicate."...

"Our attorneys (for the Dairy Group) Dal Moellenberg and TJ Trujillo of Gallagher & Kennedy drafted some language for the ex. order. We all assumed the environmentalist groups would sue and obviously they have."

Click here for documents>>>>

More>>>>

New Mexico to publish building coder regs; Sierra Club to drop lawsuit

2011-02-01T18:11:00.001-07:00

KUNM Government Project

"Marjorie Childress

In the wake of a New Mexico Supreme Court decision last week, the state of New Mexico has reached an agreement with the Sierra Club to publish new building codes in the state registry. In return, the Sierra Club will drop a lawsuit it filed earlier this month to force the publication of the new codes." More>>>>

Industry group urges Oscar judges to steer clear of 'Gasland'

2011-02-01T13:22:00.001-07:00

Greenwire

Mike Soraghan, E&E reporter

"The oil and gas industry doesn't want a golden Oscar statuette to grace the mantle of "Gasland" filmmaker Josh Fox.

An industry group sent a letter today to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, saying that a litany of errors in the anti-drilling film should render it ineligible for best documentary feature.

"The filmmaker alternates between misstating and outright ignoring basic and verifiable facts related to the impact of these activities on the health and welfare of humans, wildlife and the environment," said Lee Fuller, executive director of Energy In Depth (EID), in a letter today to the academy.

But Fox says his documentary is "backed up by facts 100 percent," and it is the industry that perpetuates falsehoods.

"Gasland exposes what they've been doing and they don't like it," Fox said in an interview today. "EID is a smear organization, a PR firm that has nothing to do with reality."

EID is an industry group formed to fight federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing, a process portrayed in the film as a central danger of oil and gas drilling. The group is closely affiliated with the Independent Petroleum Association of America, where Fuller is vice president of government affairs." More>>>>

Natural gas, electronics groups sue EPA over emission-reporting rules

2011-02-01T13:20:00.001-07:00

Greenwire

Gabriel Nelson, E&E reporter

"New federal regulations that require companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions have drawn several new lawsuits from electronics companies and the natural gas industry, which argue that there are flaws in the way U.S. EPA designed the program.

Trade groups such as the American Gas Association and the Semiconductor Industry Association, as well as the manufacturing giant 3M Co. and natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy Corp., want the agency to rethink various elements of the reporting rules that were finalized at the beginning of December. In total, seven groups filed petitions in federal court before yesterday's deadline for legal challenges.

The requirements, ordered by Congress to help policymakers and the public understand where the nation's greenhouse gas emissions originate, are separate from the controversial EPA regulations that are meant to curb greenhouse gases from cars, light-duty trucks and industrial facilities. But the newest spate of petitions, filed Friday and Monday, shows there are still some lingering disagreements about the best way to get a handle on the nation's emissions inventory.

Oil and gas groups are challenging the new requirements for drilling, production and processing facilities, while electronics groups want EPA to rethink the rules for users of fluorinated greenhouse gases.

Most other industries are required to submit their first reports to EPA in less than two months, but the rules for these two sectors were delayed for a year after the agency decided it needed more time to craft the requirements.

Oil and gas facilities and users of fluorinated greenhouse gases were required to begin keeping data on Jan. 1. Their first annual reports to EPA are due in March of next year (E&ENews PM, Nov. 9)." More>>>>

GOP walks out on oil, gas debate

2011-02-01T08:20:00.001-07:00

Energy-panel chairman Egolf scoffs at drama, denies playing politics

Trip Jennings | The New Mexican
Posted: Monday, January 31, 2011

"Six Republican lawmakers marched out of the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Monday, the first skirmish of what could turn into a war over environmental and energy legislation this legislative session.

Provoking the GOP lawmakers' ire was the committee chairman, Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, whom they accused of playing political games by dressing up propaganda as facts during what was billed as an informational session on the state's oil-and-gas industry.

"This is something — for the chairman of the committee to give a black eye to the industry," Rep. William Gray, R-Artesia, said of Monday's meeting.

Egolf responded in turn, accusing the GOP lawmakers of overdramatizing the pique they felt.

"They're doing a little show for you," Egolf said of the GOP walkout. "This is not real. This is just them trying to feed into this absurd notion that we're unfair on the committee. It's ridiculous."

Monday's drama served to illustrate the potential for combustible debates, and also for partisan gridlock, on a key legislative committee that is likely to hear important as well as controversial pieces of legislation during this year's 60-day session. A similar walkout in the future, for example, could stymie legislation on the 12-member committee, which is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.

Based on Monday's theatrics and the legislation likely to wind up before the committee in coming weeks, future conflict seems assured.

One bill likely to come before the committee would repeal greenhouse-gas emissions rules that were adopted in the final months of former Gov. Bill Richardson's administration. Meanwhile, representatives of the state's oil-and-gas industry have publicly said they're worried that Egolf's chairmanship of the committee might complicate Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's desire to roll back environmental regulations promulgated during Richardson's years in office. " More>>>>

2/

Fracking companies injected 32M gallons of diesel, House probe finds

2011-01-31T15:56:00.001-07:00

E&E News PM
01/31/2011

Mike Soraghan, E&E reporter

"Drilling service companies have injected at least 32 million gallons of diesel fuel underground as part of a controversial drilling technique, a Democratic congressional investigation has found.

Injecting diesel as part of "hydraulic fracturing" is supposed to be regulated by U.S. EPA. But an agency official told congressional investigators that EPA had assumed that the use of diesel had stopped seven years ago.

"The industry has been saying they stopped injecting toxic diesel fuel into wells," said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the ranking member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, who led the inquiry. "But our investigation showed this practice has been continuing in secret and in apparent violation of the [Safe Drinking Water Act]."

Waxman calculated the amount of diesel based on voluntary disclosures from "service companies" like Halliburton Co. and Schlumberger, which do the "frack jobs" for well operators. On Monday, Waxman and fellow committee members Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) shared their findings in an open letter to EPA officials." More>>>>

KUNM: Republicans storm out of House Energy committee

2011-01-31T13:24:00.005-07:00

KUNM

Marjorie Childress

"During a question and answer session in the House Energy and Natural Resources committee today, the entire Republican half of the committee walked out. The committee chair, Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, called it an act of gamesmanship.

Egolf arranged two presentations on the impact of rules as well as incentives on the production of oil and gas in New Mexico. Two powerpoint presentations were given, which took about an hour, then a question and answer session ensued.

Rep. Don Bratton, R-Hobbs, identified himself at the beginning of the hearing as having thirty years in the oil and gas industry. As one of the presenters began to answer a question by Rep. Al Park, D-Albuquerque, Bratton interrupted, asking what background in petroleum engineering the two presenters had."...

..."The HERN committee is evenly split among Republicans and Democrats, in a year in which many expect there to be a strong push by the oil and gas industry to lessen environmental rules and regulations on oil and gas drilling. Legislation to that effect would most likely be assigned to HERN. Four of the six [67%] Republicans on the committee identified themselves as part of the oil and gas industry, either currently, in the past, or through a spouse." More>>>>

Senate GHG bill would strike down federal, some state regs

2011-01-31T12:44:00.002-07:00

Greenwire

Jean Chemnick, E&E reporter

"Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) will introduce a bill later today that would prohibit federal agencies from regulating greenhouse gas emissions and also limit states' ability to implement carbon dioxide laws.

The measure would prevent the federal government from regulating greenhouse gas emissions for their effects on climate change, according to a source familiar with the bill." More>>>>

Professor: NM loopholes for drillers not paying off

2011-01-31T12:17:00.001-07:00

SANTA FE (KSFR) -

"A UNM professor says New Mexico's tax breaks and other loopholes for oil and gas are not producing the revenues that lawmakers thought they would. Prof. Kim Sovig has told the House energy committee that royalties from oil and gas revenues have declined over the past six years while at the same time the amounts that drillers can deduct from their obligations to the state have more than doubled. The testimony comes as Rep. Brian Egolf of Santa Fe holds a hearing to find out if state incentives are producing revenues and if the state's environmental rules are driving the drilling business to other states." KSFR>>>>

Powell: No more land deals in 'dead of night'

2011-01-31T07:36:00.001-07:00

Land commissioner raises bar for office, vows transparency

Susan Montoya Bryan | The Associated Press
Posted: Sunday, January 30, 2011

"What matters to New Mexico Land Commissioner Ray Powell is sunshine.

He's quick to trade in his undecorated office for a few moments outside under the Northern New Mexico sun.

But Powell's obsession with sunshine goes beyond being warmed up by the golden rays on this winter day. He's more interested in the kind of sunshine that will bring openness and transparency to what goes on at the State Land Office. He wants to restore confidence in the agency, protect state trust lands and continue to rake in hundreds of millions of dollars each year for public schools and other beneficiaries.

"Our objective is to put as much sunshine as we possibly can on these projects and let them live or die by their merits," he told The Associated Press during an interview. "The way we inoculate ourselves from future problems is just to have sunshine on everything that we do."

The Land Office during the previous administration was embroiled in legal battles over the exchange of trust land for private land around White Peak in northeastern New Mexico, and other questions were raised about appraisals, commercial land leases and the lack of analysis on some projects.

Former Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons has defended his administration, but just this week the New Mexico Supreme Court rejected two of the White Peak land swaps that were orchestrated by Lyons. " More>>>>
1/31

Exxon Mobil’s profit climbs 53%

2011-01-31T07:33:00.000-07:00

By Steve Gelsi, MarketWatch

"NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — Exxon Mobil Corp. said Monday that its fourth-quarter profit rose 53% to top $9 billion, marking the oil major’s richest results since the third quarter of 2008 as it benefited from higher crude-oil prices." More>>>>

Tougher regulations to affect Barnett Shale natural gas drillers

2011-01-29T09:55:00.001-07:00

Star-Telegram

By Aman Batheja

abatheja@star-telegram.com

"The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality moved this week to impose tougher regulations on natural gas drillers but opted to try them out only in the Barnett Shale area in North Texas before applying them statewide.

The state agency voted Wednesday to beef up its air emission limits on toxic chemicals associated with natural gas drilling and required producers to test their drilling sites more stringently.

It's the first major change to the agency's drilling regulations in over a decade and "light-years ahead" of the current rules, said Richard Hyde, the deputy director of permitting and registration.

Industry interests pushed for the trial period to see whether changes will be needed before the rest of the state falls under the rules.

"Those are tremendous changes and huge steps forward for both TCEQ and the industry," Celina Romero of the Texas Pipeline Association told commissioners." More>>>>

Bill would shake up energy, natural-resource boards

2011-01-29T09:42:00.002-07:00

Staci Matlock | The New Mexican
Posted: Friday, January 28, 2011 -

"A bill sponsored by Rep. Paul Bandy, R-Aztec, would ax the State Game Commission and merge the Department of Game and Fish with the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

House Bill 80 also would "sunset all boards and commissions addressing energy and natural resources issues."'...

..."Among other changes, the bill would:

Terminate the Oil Conservation Commission, the governor-appointed board that approved a controversial oil-waste pit-rule that Gov. Susana Martinez has targeted as "bad for business."
Terminate the Youth Conservation Corps Commission by 2017.
Remove per diem for the 11-member state parks advisory board and terminate it in 2017.
Remove per diem for the seven-member off-highway vehicle advisory board and terminate it in 2013.
Terminate the Mining Safety Board in 2017.
Leave in place a seven-member mining commission but change requirements for who is appointed by the governor. It would require no member to have a direct or indirect financial connection to any coal mining operation." More>>>>

Moonstruck: Climate science denier Harrison Schmitt, appointed to head NM[EMNRD], believes enviros and scientists like Holdren are communists

2011-01-28T08:09:00.002-07:00

Climate Progress
January 27, 2011

“New Mexico’s Supreme Court ordered the state records administrator yesterday to publish a rule establishing a statewide cap on emissions,” as E&E News (subs. req’d) reported today. That should be good news in a state that faces a grim future — brutal heat waves, massive wildfires, permanent Dust Bowls — in a world of unrestricted greenhouse gas emissions (see “U.S. southwest could see a 60-year drought like that of 12th century — only hotter — this century” and below). Indeed, the state’s own Sandia National Laboratory analyzed projected rainfall patterns from climate change and found “over the next 40 years, New Mexico’s economic contribution to the U.S. economy could drop by $26 billion.”

But newly elected NM Gov. Susana Martinez (R) is dead set against the emissions cap. Worse, as noted earlier this month, she picked climate denier Harrison Schmitt to run “the state’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, which oversees all environmental matters” in the state. Schmitt believes mainstream climate science is a conspiracy “to increase government control.”

Now it turns out former astronaut Schmitt is even more of a climate crackpot than first thought. As ThinkProgress reports (with a jaw-dropping audio):

Schmitt, a retired astronaut and former U.S. Senator, has said he believes the leaders of the environmental movement are communists, and that when these communist environmentalists are appointed to government positions, citizens need to “wake up” and “take control of their government again.” The New Mexico Independent has flagged this interview Schmitt gave to crank radio host Alex Jones in 2009:

SCHMITT: Number one we’ve been concerned with the misuse of science, but I think more fundamentally, this misuse of science has lead to politicians and ideologues to try to gain control of the American economy, and indeed the global economy, by scaring people…. I think that there are individuals, [Obama science czar John] Holdren apparently among them, a very large number who have taken — shall we say captured the environmental movement and turned it into what was previously considered the communist movement. And that’s just something that people of common sense are going to continue to have to counter and wake up enough so that they can take control of their government again. [...]" More>>>>

NM Supreme Court Orders Records Administrator to Print Rules

2011-01-26T12:52:00.006-07:00

New Mexico Environmental Law Center

"SANTA FE, N.M.— The New Mexico Supreme Court sided with environmental groups today when it granted a writ of mandamus to the New Mexico State Records Administrator, compelling her to print the adopted and final greenhouse gas cap and dairy discharge rules. The printing of the rules was halted earlier in the month by Governor Martinez’ Executive Order which suggested the rules were “pending” and therefore subject to a ninety day hold for review.

“This is a tremendous and deserved victory for the administration of justice in New Mexico,” stated Bruce Frederick, staff attorney of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC), the nonprofit law firm that brought two suits against the Governor for its clients, New Energy Economy and Amigos Bravos. “The ruling ensures that our regulations will continue to be developed in a public and open process, and be protected from revision through secret, backroom deals.”'

Read entire article >

Posted by Juana Colon on 01/26/2011 • Permalink

~~~~~

KSFR

"State high court hears arguments over Martinez vs. enviro rules

(2011-01-26)

SANTA FE (KSFR) -

Gov. Martinez is getting her her first court challenge today, and KSFR's Marion Cox reports that the courtroom is filled to overcapacity. The state Supreme Court is hearing a lawsuit seeking to reverse the governor's order to put aside recently enacted environmental rules. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center filed the suit, asking the high court to order Martinez to reinstate two environmental rules Martinez put on hold minutes after she took office. One rule would put a three-percent-a-year cap on greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial polluters. The other would institute cap-and-trade requirements on industry as a way of controlling emissions.

Listen to Marion Cox's first report. She says the justices asked a few questions of the environmental lawyers but questioning of Martinez' lawyers has been "withering."

Hearing still underway at 10 a.m." Link to newscast>>>>

Court Tosses Land Trade

2011-01-25T08:00:00.003-07:00

January 25, 2011

Copyright © 2011 Albuquerque Journal

Journal Staff Writers

"A divided New Mexico Supreme Court on Monday ruled against the White Peak land swaps negotiated by former State Land Commissioner Pat Lyons and appeared to bar any future trades of private tracts for state trust land.

The high court said it wasn't ruling on whether the four-part exchange of land parcels in the White Peak area north of Ocate was a good deal or a bad one.

The opinion by Justice Richard C. Bosson says the "Land commissioner makes a cogent argument supporting his conclusion that certain private land exchanges would improve the management and value of state trust lands."

But it says that under New Mexico's 100-year-old Enabling Act, the state land commissioner can only dispose of trust land "by a true public auction."

"Without the benefit of an auction's objective means of sale ... there is no protection against favoritism," the opinion says.

Bosson, joined by Justices Petra Jimenez Maes and Patricio M. Serna stressed that the court wasn't undoing any past Land Office exchanges.

Justices Edward Chavez and Charles Daniels dissented. Chavez noted that the land commissioner's "undivided loyalty is to the designated beneficiaries and not the state as a whole."

By quibbling over the specifics of the auction process instead of questioning the commissioner's overall authority to exchange land, Chavez wrote, "the attorney general seeks to protect the best interests of the bidders (in the White Peak case), not the best interests of the trust beneficiaries." It was Attorney General Gary King who challenged the trades before the Supreme Court.

In the White Peak deal, Lyons maintained the trades he negotiated with ranchers would help clear up complicated boundaries between state and private land and prevent trespassing, poaching and vandalism. Opponents said Lyons was giving up some of the state's best public elk hunting territory.

The Supreme Court majority noted that the Enabling Act says state trust lands "shall not be sold or leased, in whole or in part, except to the highest and best bidder at a public auction."

Because the White Peak deals had to be worked out ahead of time, the opinion says, the exchanges were made using negotiating and bargaining "rather than seeking the highest financial gain through objective means."' More>>>>

Industry wary of S.F. rep from oil family

2011-01-25T07:58:00.001-07:00

Steve Terrell | The New Mexican
Posted: Monday, January 24, 2011 - 1

"State Rep. Brian Egolf's great-grandfather was the founder of the American Petroleum Association of America. Egolf's father, until a few years ago, was an oilman, who drilled in Oklahoma and Texas.

But oil-industry representatives aren't exactly reacting with joy at the news that a "member of the family" is heading to the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

In fact, because of the younger Egolf's public positions on environment and conservation issues, some in the energy industry worry that Gov. Susana Martinez's agenda of rolling back environmental regulations just got harder.

Speaking at a meeting of Leadership Santa Fe, a program sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, Egolf said Monday that because of an even split on his committee among Democrats and Republicans, few bills that are controversial will gain passage." More>>>>
"

Drilling Santa Fe

New Mexico judge halts pit rule appeals

EPA: Fracking may cause groundwater pollution

Debate over fracking heats up

Supreme Court refuses to hear renewable fuel case

Cuadrilla Resources confirms that fracking caused earthquakes

Senator wants debate on pipeline safety bill

New York fracking lawsuit could set drilling precedent

Gold Firm Loses Lease

Energy Secretary signals green light likely for XL Pipeline

BP Can Deny It All They Want But That Looks Like Oil Again At Deepwater

U.S. to Slash Marcellus Shale Gas Estimate 80%

Fracking might have caused Colorado/New Mexico Area Quakes

60 Minutes: "A look at the world's new corporate tax havens"

Gas Fracking Poses Serious Environmental Risks, U.S. Panel Finds

New Mexico Oil and Gas Association proposes rule for disclosing makeup of fracking fluids

EPA takes hard line on PNM power plant pollution

Board eyes greenhouse-gas rules

Enviros win voice in carbon battle

Showdown in Tierra Amarilla

"Oil company's quiet deal with Land Grant sparks anger, internal mistrust"

By Andrew KasperSUN Staff Writer

Governor considers replacement of state's top water official

Environment Department official resigns after bureau move

MOODY'S PLACES RATINGS OF FIVE OF 15 Aaa STATES ON REVIEW FOR POSSIBLE DOWNGRADE DUE TO U.S. SOVEREIGN RISK VULNERABILITY

"APPROXIMATELY $24 BILLION OF RATED DEBT AFFECTED; HIGH FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT AND MEDICAID EXPOSURE CITED

BP slips up again

The World Factbook: Natural gas - proved reserves

Exxon exec says doesn’t know Montana spill’s cause

"Battle for Brooklyn"

Report: Natural Gas Insiders Question Feasibility, Profitability of Industry

Firm says deal with land grant opens area to drilling

"Gasland" Screening in Santa Fe

Posting hiatus continues

Posting Break

Summary of 2011 NM legislative session

Biggest radioactive spill in U.S. history was in New Mexico (Listen again)

Charting the Human Cost of Different Types of Energy

States ask Supreme Court to dismiss utility-emission case

Environmental, construction rules top targets of state task force

Mexico, Canada eye imports of U.S. shale gas

Nathanial Gronewold, E&E reporter

Republicans Urge More Energy Production

PA Governor Gives Energy Executive Supreme Authority Over Environmental Permitting

Another One Of Those Small Business-Friendly Tactics?

Wyoming Air Pollution Worse Than Los Angeles Due To Gas Drilling

NM governor nominates Bemis to head energy agency

NM House Bills 297 & 422

NM SB 421 Tabled

Oil-slick sleight of hand

Pressure Limits Efforts to Police Drilling for Gas

By IAN URBINA

Published: March 3, 2011

Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times

Questions, additional information or related tips can be sent to urbina@nytimes.com.

Multimedia

Related

Green Blog: Pressure Grows for Answers on Fracking (March 2, 2011)

Left, Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press; Stephen Crowley/The New York Times

Art Cashin On The Worrisome String Of Earthquakes Rattling The State Of Arkansas

'We intend to do our jobs' on fracking, EPA chief vows

Gabriel Nelson and Mike Soraghan, E&E reporters

Dish sues gas firms over compressor stations

High drama as film tax credit cap passes

America's 10 Most Toxic Cities

Wastewater Recycling No Cure-All in Gas Process

Questions, additional information or related tips can be sent to urbina@nytimes.com.

Multimedia

Related

Drilling Down: Regulation Lax as Gas Wells’ Tainted Water Hits Rivers (February 27, 2011)

Jessica Kourkounis for The New York Times

Regulation Lax as Gas Wells’ Water Hits Rivers

The New York Time

By IAN URBINA

Published: February 26, 2011

Multimedia

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Spreadsheet: Contaminants in Samples From More Than 200 Wells (Microsoft Excel File)

Todd Heisler/The New York Times

Readers' Comments

By Andrew Kasper
SUN Staff Writer