Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission Votes to Ban Injection Wells in Area Near the Guy-Greenbrier Fault
On July 27, 2011, the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission voted to place a moratorium on injection well activities in a large area stretching from North of Heber Springs to South of Conway. The area has experienced over one thousand earthquakes since companies began disposing of fracking fluids in injection wells in the area. A Read More
Child Safety Outlet Covers Recalled
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 37,000 child safety latches and outlet covers due to problems with the products’ screws. The agency said the screws can break, giving children easy access to electrical outlets. There have been four reports of screws breaking, but no injuries have occurred, the company said. Carter Read More
Safer Toys for Children on the Way (Hopefully)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted 5-0 on July 20 to approve new third party testing requirements, through a notice of requirements, to ensure the safety of children’s toys. While the toy industry has had to comply with mandatory toy safety requirements for more than two years, the Commission voted to give manufacturers, Read More
Poseidon Energy Services fined for dumping fracking sludge
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has fined Poseidon Energy Services for a variety of violations present at its fracking waste disposal facility in White County. The ADEQ has inspected the facility three times in the past 90 days, noting violations each time. The facility was not storing the fracking sludge properly, and had Read More
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Lowers Lead Paint Limits in Children’s Goods
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has lowered the limit for the amount of lead that may be present in children’s goods. The 3-2 vote will lower the acceptable ceiling from 300 parts per million to 100 parts per million. The dissenters in the vote claimed that the new regulations will “add costs to businesses Read More
Drunk Driving: A Deadly Problem in Arkansas
Drunk Driving is a deadly but preventable problem in Arkansas. In 2009, the most recent year for which information and statistics are available, 36% of all traffic fatalities in Arkansas involved alcohol. Of the 211 traffic fatalities involving alcohol in Arkansas in 2009, nearly 80% involved a driver or pedestrian with a blood alcohol content Read More
Arkansas Rule Requiring Fracking Fluid Disclosure Receives Final Approval
A committee of the Arkansas Legislature has given final approval to Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission Rule B-19. This rule requires disclosure of fracking fluid contents. Fracking fluid contents disclosures, to date, can be found here: https://www.aogc.state.ar.us/Well_Fracture_Companies.htm
Punitive Damages: What Are They and When Are They Awarded
Punitive damages are damages awarded to the injured party to punish the wrongdoer for their outrageous conduct. Awards of punitive damages are made when the actions of the wrongdoer are wanton, reckless, malicious or oppressive. If you have been injured in a car wreck or auto accident involving a drunk driver or were injured by Read More
U.S. House Takes Action to Cut Funding for www.saferproducts.gov
The United States House of Representatives is beginning the task of shutting down a consumer-complaint database. Last Week, The House Appropriations Committee voted to strip all $3 million in funding for the database. The database, maintained as the website www.saferproducts.gov, was launched in March of this year. Since that time, the Consumer Product Safety Commission Read More
USGS to study water quality in the Fayetteville Shale area
The United States Geological Survey is conducting water quality monitoring and research in several parts of the Fayetteville Shale. The intent of this research is to provide background information on water quality in the shale area as fracking sites continue to proliferate in the area. Work has begun in Faulkner County, with plans to survey Read More