State Agencies Tell Independent Group That Agencies Need More Staff
The State Review of Oil and Gas Environmental Regulations, Inc. met with representatives from each the state agencies that regulate shale gas development. Representatives from each of those agencies, including the Natural Resources Commission, Oil and Gas Commission, and Department of Environmental Quality each expressed the need for additional staff to inspect well sites in Read More
McMath Woods Files Suit on Behalf of the Ozark Society to Halt Natural Gas Development in the Ozark National Forest
McMath Woods attorneys Sam Ledbetter and Ross Noland filed suit today on behalf of their client, the Ozark Society, to stop natural gas leasing, exploration and development in the Ozark National Forest. The suit alleges the federal government has violated the National Environmental Policy Act by increasing natural gas development in the Ozark National Forest Read More
Cabot Oil and Gas Co. to Drill in Arkansas
During the week of October 21, 2011, the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission issued a permit to Cabot Oil and Gas Co. to drill in Union County, Arkansas. The company’s application for permit to drill indicates the well will require hydraulic fracturing. The majority of hydraulic fracturing occurring in Arkansas is in the north-central part Read More
Online Media Mislead Readers About Jury Awards, Report Says
The Center for Justice & Democracy has published a report claiming that digital media has skewed the public’s perception of civil cases by covering only the most sensational, and sometimes frivolous, outcomes. The center’s executive director said that online media’s short bursts of news with quick headlines “commonly emphasize large monetary awards, which do not Read More
Clinton Global Initiative Supports the Alternative-Energy Movement
Former President Bill Clinton said Tuesday that the success of the alternative-energy movement is hampered by a lack of financing. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/sep/21/clinton-promotes-green-20110921/
Drilling Company Sues Town
A drilling company in New York is suing the town of Dryden, near Ithaca, New York. The suit seeks to declare a city zoning ordinance banning fracking in city limits illegal. The city maintains that it can regulate land use within its borders. The city passed the zoning ordinance banning drilling in order to protect Read More
Arkansas Public Policy Panel Issues Report on Drilling Industry
The Arkansas Public Policy Panel released a report today detailing the prolific number of water quality standards violations by drilling operations in Arkansas. The report summarizes hundreds of violations that the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality has documented during inspections reports. The report notes that, despite widespread violations in the industry, the majority of gas Read More
New Rule Adopted for Noise from Natural Gas Compressor Stations
At its meeting of August 23, 2011, the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC) approved a new rule that will limit the amount of noise a natural-gas compressor station emits. The new rule will limit the noise levels of a non-wellhead natural gas compressor to 55 decibels as measured from the exterior of the nearest Read More
Bureau of Land Management Director Considers Regulations for Fracking on Public Lands
Robert Abbey, Director of the federal government’s Bureau of Land Management, told Bloomberg News yesterday that his agency may develop regulations for hydraulic fracturing on public lands. The Bureau of Land Management issues leases and permits to drill on public lands, such as the Ouachita and Ozark National Forests in Arkansas. Abbey stated that his Read More
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are approximately 595,000 underground storage tanks (USTs) nationwide that store petroleum or hazardous substances. USTs leak from a variety of causes – corrosion, leaking fittings, overfills are a few examples. The greatest potential threat from a leaking UST is contamination of groundwater, which is the Read More