Energy: BLM eyes new rules for fracking on public lands

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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BLM wants to update 30-year-old fracking regs.

Common sense steps address some environmental and health concerns

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — An updated set of draft rules for fracking on public and Indian lands includes several common-sense safeguards that will help protect the human health and safety, as well as the environment. For starters, the rule requires disclosure of the chemicals used for fracking, a key measure that ensures transparency and gives the public some assurance.

The proposed rule beefs up standards meant to insure well bore-integrity, which will help verify that fluids used during fracturing operations are not contaminating groundwater. Operators must also have a plan in place for handling fluids that flow back to the surface.

About 90 percent of wells drilled on Federal and Indian lands use hydraulic fracturing, but the Bureau of Land Management’s current regulations governing hydraulic fracturing operations on public lands are more than 30 years old and were not written to address modern hydraulic fracturing activities. (more…)

Filed under: BLM, energy, Environment, gas drilling, oil drilling, public lands | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Environment: Federal court clears way for new EPA regulations on water pollution from fossil fuel power plants

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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New EPA rules will reduce toxic water pollution from fossil fuel power plants. Photo via Wikipedia under a GNU Free Documentation License.

Cutting discharges of selenium, lead and arsenic will protect the environment

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A federal appeals court this week cleared the way for the EPA to issue new regulations aimed at stemming mercury, arsenic, lead, and selenium water pollution from power plant discharges.

Steam electric power plants alone contribute more than half of the toxic pollutants discharged to water bodies by all industrial categories currently regulated in the Unites States. The proposed rule sets the first federal limits on levels of toxic metals in wastewater that can be discharged from power plants. (more…)

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Environment: Pipelines under scrutiny

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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An oil pipeline in Alaska. Photo courtesy USGS.

Thirst for oil leads to inevitable disasters

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — With more than 2.6 million miles of pipeline criss-crossing the country, it seems almost inevitable that there will be breaks and spills. The only question is how serious the spill will be.

Right now, residents of Mayflower, Ark, will probably tell you that last year’s passage of the Pipeline Safety Act didn’t prevent their town from becoming the latest ground zero in a seemingly never-ending series of oil spill disasters.

The Pipeline Safety Act doubled the maximum civil penalties for pipeline safety violations from $100,000 to $200,000 and authorized an increase for the federal pipeline inspector workforce. (more…)

Filed under: energy, Environment, oil drilling | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: Groups protest North Park oil and gas lease sales

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Wildlife advocates want more up-front planning

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Conservation groups are contesting planned North Park oil lease sales.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — There’s more wrangling over oil and gas drilling leases in Colorado, as wildlife advocacy groups are protesting the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed lease of three North Park parcels totaling about 2,200 acres.

According to National Wildlife Federation attorney Michael Saul, some of the parcels could impact important sage-grouse and mule deer habitat.

“Hunters, anglers and many others have asked the Colorado BLM to approve master leasing plans in North Park and South Park because of the vital resources that must be  balanced in both areas,’’ said Suzanne O’Neill, executive director of the Colorado Wildlife Federation. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, energy, Environment, gas drilling, oil drilling | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Latest Keystone pipeline study draws howls of outrage

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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A proposed tar sands oil pipeline has become the focal point of a philosophical battle over energy and the environment.

Fossil fuel project has become a flashpoint for larger environmental and policy battles

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — It seems to border on sheer lunacy in this day and age to even consider an 850-mile pipeline to transport gooey tar sands oil across half a continent just because it can be done profitably. The environmental realities of increasing greenhouse gases alone would suggest that investing in this type of fossil fuel infrastructure would be a huge step in the wrong direction.

Yet for the second time, the U.S. State Department last week concluded that the pipeline would not have a substantial impact on the rate of development in the oil sands, or on the amount of heavy crude oil refined in the Gulf Coast area. (more…)

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Colorado: Fort Collins moves closer to fracking ban

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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SkyTruth created this map with 2008 data, showing the general location of oil and gas drilling activities in Colorado.

Town seeks to protect health and well-being of residents; critics say local bans violate state law

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Creating yet another headache for Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper’s pro-fracking administration, Fort Collins this week voted to ban oil and gas exploration — including hydraulic fracturing — within city limits.

The 5-2 city council vote came after a several hours of citizen testimony, with a large majority of residents apparently in favor of a drilling ban. To become final, the ordinance must be passed by another vote in a few weeks.

Arguments over the ban remain the same. Supporters of the ban say the industrial processes associated with fossil fuel development don’t belong anywhere near residential areas, and the chemicals and air pollution associated with drilling pose a significant health risk. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, energy, Environment, gas drilling, oil drilling, politics | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Fossil fuel drilling fingered in Uinta Basin ozone formation

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Better pollution control technology needed to cut VOC emissions

Monitoring sites in the Uinta Basin.

Monitoring sites in the Uinta Basin.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Ongoing studies of winter ozone formation in the Uinta Basin shows the need for better pollution control technology on oil and gas drilling rigs and other equipment used for fossil fuel development.

An emissions inventory developed for the study found that oil and gas operations are responsible for 98-99 percent of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and for 57-61 percent of the nitrogen oxide emissions. VOCs and nitrogen compounds are the key ingredients for ozone-laced smog, which has been clearly identified as a human health threat. (more…)

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Colorado: BLM defers touchy North Fork drilling leases

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

88,000 acres go on auction block next week

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A BLM map identifies areas up for oil and gas drilling leases, as well as areas where lease sales have been deferred.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — The Bureau of Land Management will offer up another 90,000 acres of land in Colorado for oil and gas drilling next week, but the agency did defer sales of about 20,000 acres of controversial proposed leases in the North Fork area.

The BLM also deferred the leasing of several parcels along the entrance road to Dinosaur National Monument because the agency doesn’t have a current inventory of the area’s wilderness characteristics, according to Ellyne Bannon, of the Checks and Balances Project.

Details of the upcoming lease sale are at this BLM website. (more…)

Filed under: BLM, business, Colorado, energy, Environment, gas drilling, oil drilling, public lands | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Energy: Key East Coast grid could be powered with renewable sources by 2030 — at an overall cost savings

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Bob Berwyn
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Offshore windpower could be a critical part of a renewable East Coast power grid. Photo courtesy Hans Hillewaert.

Smart planning, with mix of sources and adequate storage the key to renewable energy future

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Powering the U.S. with renewable energy sources has always seemed to be a long-term dream, so distant that the temptation to stick with fossil fuels — despite the obvious environmental costs — has so far outweighed to motivation to move into a greener future.

That perception is, of course, supported by heavy duty lobbying and advertising by the fossil fuel industry, but evidence continues to mount that a renewable energy future is attainable in the foreseeable future, with existing technologies and at a cost comparable to today’s electricity expenses.

One of the most recent studies comes from the University of Delaware and Delaware Technical Community College, finding that a well-designed combination of wind power, solar power and storage in batteries and fuel cells would nearly always exceed electricity demands while keeping costs low, the scientists found. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, energy, Environment, global warming, renewable energy | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: Public comments favor careful oil shale plan

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Oil shale lands in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.

Energy industry spin meisters skew interpretation of public comments on BLM draft plan

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Just a few weeks after oil shale advocates held a press conference touting alleged public support for an aggressive leasing plan favored under the Bush administration, a watchdog group is charging that the numbers were intentionally skewed by an industry front group.

“ECCOS deliberately misled the public and trumped up support for a radical plan that puts our water and communities at risk from oil shale speculation,” said Matt Garrington, co-director of the Checks and Balances Project.

At issue are public comments on a draft oil shale leasing plan. The input was collected by the Bureau of Land Management during the public comment period. An older version of the plan approved under the Bush administration opened more than 2 million acres in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming to speculative leasing. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, energy, oil shale | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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