Deadhorse, Alaska -- A British Petroleum (BP) oil and gas well on Alaska’s Northern Slope that blew out on Friday continues to spill crude oil and gas uncontrollably. No one was injured when the well blew out.
This disaster comes on the heels of two spills in Alaska’s Cook inlet and less than a week before the seven year anniversary of BP’s Deepwater Horizon catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico.
Columbus, OH -- Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) notified Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) that it was conducting an investigation into the construction of the fracked gas Rover pipeline. The investigation comes as the Ohio EPA discovered the presence of petroleum hydrocarbon constituents, which are commonly found in diesel fluid, among the fluid ETP spilled near the Tuscarawas River during construction.
Washington, DC -- A new report released today by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) claims that hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is not a significant source of dangerous chemicals in drinking water, despite a significant body of scientific evidence to the contrary.
ANCHORAGE – Interior Secretary Zinke today signed a Secretarial Order opening the Arctic to increased oil and gas production. The Order initiates a review of the sensitive coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas development and aims to increase drilling in the Western Arctic.
In response Lena Moffitt, director of the Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign issued the following statement.
Boston, MA - The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) has written Governor Charlie Baker to ask him to drop his support for new natural gas pipelines until the state and federal agencies conduct comprehensive analyses to measure their effect on the climate and human health.
Hartford, CT--The Connecticut Siting Council voted today to approve a draft order denying the siting of a proposed 550 MW natural gas power plant in Killingly, Connecticut. The Council found that plant is not needed for energy reliability in Connecticut or the broader New England region.
Washington, DC -- Today, the U.S. Senate defeated a vote that would have paved the way for revoking the Bureau of Land Management’s methane waste prevention rule, a standard which would prevent the leaking and flaring of methane from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands. Senator Michael Bennet voted against the bill while Senator Cory Gardner voted in favor of nullifying the rule.
Washington, DC -- Today, the U.S. Senate defeated a vote that would have paved the way for revoking the Bureau of Land Management’s methane waste prevention rule, a standard which would prevent the leaking and flaring of methane from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands. Senator John McCain voted against the bill while Senator Jeff Flake voted in favor of nullifying the rule.
In response, Sierra Club Arizona Chapter Director Sandy Bahr released the following statement:
Washington, DC -- Today, the U.S. Senate voted down a vote that would have paved the way for revoking the Bureau of Land Management’s methane waste prevention rule, a standard which would prevent the leaking and flaring of methane from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto voted against the bill while Senator Dean Heller voted in favor of nullifying the rule.
Washington, DC -- Today, every Senate Democrat and three Senate Republicans voted against a procedural vote that would have paved the way for revoking the Bureau of Land Management’s methane waste prevention rule, a standard which would prevent the leaking and flaring of methane from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands. The three Senate Republicans voting against the bill were Senators Susan Collins, Lindsay Graham and, John McCain.
Washington, DC -- Last night, Senator Rob Portman (OH) announced support for a Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) methane waste prevention rule. The rule curbs methane pollution from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands, preventing waste and reducing the health effects of methane pollution on nearby communities. Senator Portman credited his decision to support nullifying the rule based on concessions from Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to take action on methane.
Richmond, VA -- Today, the Sierra Club is filed a petition with the Virginia State Corporation Commission stating that Dominion Virginia Power’s (DVP) deal with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline for capacity to ship fracked gas requires the Commission's prior approval.