Today’s essential reads.
FRACKING:
DEC: Fracking on Private Land OK
The Department of Environmental Conservation says the state should allow high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing on private land, but with restrictions.
EU Official Wants Search for Shale Gas Restricted
German politician Jo Leinen, chair of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety at the European Union Parliament, wants to introduce a directive that would restrict the expansion of the search for shale gas in the EU.
Cuomo’s Jekyll and Hyde Act on Energy Policies
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is having a hard time remaining consistent in his efforts to influence the regulation of energy sources. While we praise his administration for attempting to lift a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in New York State, we wonder what came over him to advocate closing the Indian Point nuclear plant.
W.Va. Man Sues Gas Companies Over Plan to Use His Land to Drain Gas from Neighboring Acreage
A Marion County man is suing two natural gas companies, arguing that even though they own the mineral rights under his land, they don’t have the right to use the surface to sink wells that will drain gas from neighboring properties.
BP OIL SPILL:
Gulfport councilman Rusty Walker doesn’t mince words when the issue of BP’s relationship with his city comes up. “They’re not dealing fairly with us,” Walker said during a phone conversation with WLOX News Director Brad Kessie. “They’re using low level flunkies to deal with us.”
Exxon Montana Oil Spill: Lessons from BP
The Exxon Mobil(XOM_) oil spill in Montana’s Yellowstone River is minor in comparison to the BP(BP_) Macondo spill as far as environmental disasters go but there are still some lessons for investors that apply regardless of the number of barrels of oil spilled.
2 UL professors among grant recipients for Gulf of Mexico research
Two University of Louisiana at Lafayette professors are among several educators awarded grants from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Research Board.
Leaked Videos Show Former BP Boss Tony Hayward Grilled by US Lawyers Over Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Video footage of lawyers grilling Tony Hayward about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has found its way on to the internet, after the former BP boss was subjected to aggressive questioning in London last month.
RADIATION:
Meltdown: What Really Happened at Fukushima?
It’s been one of the mysteries of Japan’s ongoing nuclear disaster: How much of the damage did the March 11 earthquake inflict on Fukushima Daiichi’s reactors in the 40 minutes before the devastating tsunami arrived? The stakes are high: If the quake alone structurally compromised the plant and the safety of its nuclear fuel, then every other similar reactor in Japan is at risk.
