Washington, DC -- Late yesterday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected Energy Transfer Partners’ request to resume horizontal directional drilling at two sites for its Rover fracked gas pipeline. This rejection comes after numerous leaks into Ohio’s wetlands, and Clean Air and Clean Water act violations. FERC has halted the process at only eight locations of the 32 where drilling is taking place under Ohio’s wetlands and streams.
Mead, Colorado -- Late yesterday, an oil tanker in Mead, CO exploded, killing one and injuring three. Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the explosion.
Minneapolis, MN -- Today, the Minnesota Department of Commerce released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Enbridge’s Line 3 Pipeline. The proposed tar sands pipeline has faced widespread backlash from communities for the proposed reroute and expansion of a section of the pipeline through the Mississippi headwaters and treaty protected wild rice waters and issues with abandonment of the aging current-Line 3 section.
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.
York, NE -- Today, the Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) is holding its lone public comment meeting along the proposed path of the Keystone XL pipeline. The meeting is offering Nebraskans the opportunity to debate whether it should grant TransCanada the permit necessary to construct the pipeline. While hundreds showed up to the meeting today, the Public Service Commission is only allowing fewer than 150 Nebraskans to speak.
Washington, DC -- Today, Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of the Interior to review the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Oil and Gas leasing program. According to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, the process will take two years. Trump will also order a review of marine monuments and existing offshore drilling regulations including the blowout preventer rule, put into place after the Deepwater Horizon disaster to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Two days before thousands and thousands of people are expected to march for climate action in Washington, DC and across the country, the U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt will meet with the board members of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers -- a trade group representing General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, Ford, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and others --to discuss dismantling lifesaving fuel and emissions saving protections.
Columbus, OH -- Yesterday, it was revealed that Energy Transfer’s Rover pipeline has had two major spills of drilling fluids into Ohio’s wetlands in just the past week. Construction began on the project on in mid-March 2017. On April 14th, 50,000 gallons of drilling fluids were spilled into a wetland in Richland County, Mifflin Township.