Texas water company fined by Canadian County

Texas-based Select Energy has become the first to be fined under Canadian County’s 8-month policy requiring firms obtain a permit before using the county rights-of-way for temporary pipelines. The Yukon Review reported Select Energy was fined $1,000 for failing to obtain the permit. The firm also forfeited another $1,000 to pay for the cost of …

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Repairman sentenced in oil and gas scheme

An Oklahoma City oil and gas repairman was sentenced this week to 33 months in federal prison for ripping off an Austin, Texas energy company to the tune of $450,000. Luis Enrique Damazo, 54 was sentenced by Oklahoma City federal court by U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot and ordered him to pay $456,863.59 in …

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Zinke’s Colorado speech met with protest

Last week, we were in Steamboat Springs, Colorado where on Friday protesters tried to upstage Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke over a scheduled political speech. The following is an account of what happened at the speech, as reported by the Huffington Post.   A protester at a Colorado right-wing conference challenged Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke over his failure …

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ConocoPhillips warns of layoffs in September

No word if job cuts suggested by ConocoPhillips might reach its Bartlesville operations, but the Houston-based company said it’s preparing for “modest” numbers of layoffs during September in a move to cut costs. The company recently posted a $1.6 billion net profit in the second quarter but it also has trimmed its workforce in recent …

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Growing drought results in USDA disaster designation

Federal Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue notified Governor Mary Fallin this week that he has designated four Oklahoma counties as primary natural disaster areas due to a recent drought. A Secretarial disaster designation makes farm operators in primary counties and those counties contiguous to such primary counties eligible to be considered for certain assistance from the Farm …

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Patterson gets pay boost as head of ODOT

The State Transportation Commission voted last week to boost the salary of Oklahoma Department of Transportation Executive Director Mike Patterson from $156,000 to $185,000 a year. The commissioners went into executive session to discuss Patterson’s work performance. Afterward in their public meeting, they voted unanimously to increase the salary. “Mr. Patterson has been a vital …

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Nominations to be made for annual water awards

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is taking nominations for excellence awards. Nominations will be allowed through Sept. 28 for the Water for 2060 Excellence Award program. The program was developed to recognize individuals and groups that make exceptional contributions to the promotion and implementation of water use efficiency and conservation of fresh water in Oklahoma. …

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Boil order lifted in Jones

The State Department of Environmental Quality has lifted the boil order for residents of the city of Jones following a scare over E. coli found in the water. The DEQ indicated the water is now safe for human consumption and the order to boil water was lifted over the weekend. State and federal regulations require …

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New member of GRDA is named by Governor Fallin

  Governor Mary Fallin  announced the appointment of Michael Lewandowski to the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA). He is replacing Edward Townsend, whose term expires. Lewandowski, of Afton, will serve a five-year term effective Aug. 30, and ending Aug. 29, 2023. He will serve as an at-large member on the GRDA. No Senate confirmation is …

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Williams Companies finalizes merger

The Williams Companies, Inc. has wrapped up its merger of Williams Partners with a subsidiary of Williams. As part of the merger, Williams acquired all of the outstanding common units of Williams Partners that it did not previously own. The merger was finalized over the weekend and as a result, Williams Partners common units are …

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