Today’s Essential Reads
FRACKING:
Environmental Groups Object to Hickenlooper Ad on Fracking
A group of environmental organizations asked the Colorado Oil and Gas Assocation on Monday to pull what is said is a misleading radio ad featuring Gov. Hickenlooper. In the ad, the governor says Colorado has “not had one instance of groundwater contamination associated with drilling and hydraulic fracturing” since the overhaul of the state’s oil and gas protections in 2008.
EPA Warned Of Water Contamination From Hydraulic Fracking Back In 1987
The recent NY court judges ruling that backs townspeople’s right to ban hydraulic fracking by natural gas drilling companies will most likely have a downward trickle effect to states like West Virginia who are facing the booming new method of the natural gas exploration industry known as “fracking.”
Fracking Issue Goes Beyond Landowners
Landowners aren’t the only ones concerned about the potential impact of horizontal fracturing.
EPA Chief Vows ‘Strong Science’ on Hydraulic Fracturing
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson is defending the rigor of the agency’s study of potential water contamination linked to the controversial natural-gas drilling method hydraulic fracturing.
BP OIL SPILL:
BP Oil Spill Trial Delay Stirs Up Talk of a Brewing Settlement
Although there’s no guarantee a settlement will be reached, people who have been following the oil spill litigation say U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier wouldn’t have delayed the trial until next Monday if he didn’t think a deal was in reach to settle at least a portion of the case or possibly all of it. “I think it indicates that the parties were able to convince him that there was a realistic possibility of settling the private plaintiffs portion of the case,” said Blaine LeCesne, a Loyola tort law professor who has been following the case.
BP Said to Consider $14 Billion Oil Spill Settlement Deal
BP Plc (BP/) and lawyers for businesses and individuals suing over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill are near a $14 billion accord to be funded with money set aside for out-of-court settlements, according to three people familiar with the talks.
BP Shares Up As Legal Fight Is Put On Hold
BP shares were among the highest climbers on the FTSE 100 in early trading yesterday after the trial to decide who should pay for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill was delayed by a week.
Coastal Mayors React to BP Settlement Talks (VIDEO)
Even as crews continue to clean up the mess made by BP on Alabama beaches, negotiations are underway on a settlement between BP and tens of thousands of people and businesses whose livelihoods were turned upside down by the biggest oil spill in U.S. history.
RADIATION:
Japan Weighed Evacuating Tokyo in Nuclear Crisis
In the darkest moments of last year’s nuclear accident, Japanese leaders did not know the actual extent of damage at the plant and secretly considered the possibility of evacuating Tokyo, even as they tried to play down the risks in public, an independent investigation into the accident disclosed on Monday.
