Author's posts
US Sanctions Against Venezuela Could Impact Some Service Stations
New sanctions by the Trump administration against Venezuela could ultimately affect customers at some service stations in Oklahoma and across the U.S. That’s because Valero stations are owned by CITGO which is a Texas based company that is 50.1% owned by PDV America, Inc, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venequela, S.A. The …
EPA Wants Former Midwest City Business Declared a Superfund Site
A former industrial site that’s left groundwater contaminated in Midwest City is being suggested to be named an EPA Superfund site. The Environmental Protection Agency announced this week it is adding the former Eagle Industries site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List of the nation’s most contaminated sites. “Communities get healthier and local …
Superfund Program to be Examined in Senate Hearing
A subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing Tuesday exploring the EPA’s Superfund program. Entitled, “Oversight of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund Program,” the hearing will be held by the Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight. Three witnesses will testify including independent consultant Katherine …
Shutting Down—an Energy Information Network
One of the energy websites across the U.S. is shutting down operations. Oilpro.com announced Monday it is closing. “It is with great sadness that we announce the closure of Oilpro.com,” said the firm. It will no longer operate as of Aug.2 when the website goes offline. As Oilpro.com liked to describe itself, it was a …
Congressman Cole Opposes Privatizing Air Traffic Control System
Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole is one of the latest to take a stand against President Obama’s call to privatize the air traffic control system. The U.S. Representative said a privatized Federal Aviation Administration would be unfair to the American taxpayer. “It is simply wrong to take billions of dollars’ worth of assets purchased by federal …
Inhofe Promotes General Aviation While Criticizing FAA’s Environmental Reviews
Writing in a publication of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe promoted his bill which calls for expanded investments at general aviation airports across the U.S. He touted his Forward Looking Investment in General Aviation, Hangars and Tarmacs Act of 2017, the FLIGHT Act. “This legislation will give general aviation airports …
Halliburton Makes $29 million Settlement with SEC
Halliburton, with the major operation in Duncan, has agreed to pay $29 million to settle an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The investigation was into allegations that the company had violated the books and records and internal accounting controls provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act while selecting and making payments to …
Pruitt Denies Using EPA as Stepping Stone to Higher Political Office
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt scoffs at the idea among environmentalists and national media that he’s using the office for greater political motives—maybe a run for Governor in Oklahoma. It’s what he made clear in a recent interview with The Oklahoman and a story published July 31. “To think somehow that…I would go through a …
Devon Makes $205 million Divestiture of Assets in South Texas
Oklahoma City-based Devon Energy has taken another step in its $1 billion divestiture program with the sale of nearly 20,000 of holdings the Eagle Ford play of south Texas. The 19,600 acres was sold to Penn Virginia Corp. for $205 million cash in a deal targeted to be closed by Sept. 30. Penn Virginia officials …
Complaint Filed Over Pruitt’s Trips Home to Oklahoma
The watchdog group American Oversight is asking the Office of Special Counsel to begin an investigation into the travel of EPA administrator Scott Pruitt back to Oklahoma. As stories pointed out in the past week, Pruitt’s travels back home to Tulsa cost taxpayers about $15,000 and it was estimated 90 percent of his travel days …