News Round-Up: September 23, 2011

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Today’s Essential Reads

FRACKING:

Shale Drilling Must Improve to Protect Environment, GDF Says

The technology used to extract oil and gas from shale rocks, a process that has revolutionized the U.S. energy industry, should be improved to protect the environment, the head of Europe’s largest gas company said.

Fracking Jobs? N.Y. Residents Need Not Apply

Think fracking for natural gas means jobs? Think again.

Marcellus Gas Drillers Face Potential ‘Chaos’ in Pennsylvania Legal Ruling

Pennsylvania appeals court ruling has raised questions about who can claim ownership of natural gas embedded in the Marcellus shaleformation, potentially putting in doubt the legitimacy of thousands of drilling leases.

Fracking – Dangerous for Our Health and the Planet?

Shale gas has been hailed as a revolution for energy supplies, but the evidence against it is stacking up. In anarticle for PublicServiceEurope.com last May, Benny Peiser of the Global Warming Policy Foundation – a think-tank set up to oppose action on climate change – described shale gas as a “clean energy source”, dismissing those opposed to it as vested interests. Sadly, the concept of shale gas as clean and green does not stand up to scrutiny. The two major reasons for this are the risk of local environmental contamination and climate change impact.

BP OIL SPILL:

Sick Gulf Residents Continue to Blame BP

People exposed to crude oil after the BP (British Petroleum) oil spill last year are reporting continued poor health.

Gulf Oil Spill Investigators Silenced, U.S. House Panel Chairman Says

A U.S. House committee was forced to postpone a hearing on the findings of a federal investigation into the causes of the BP oil spill because the Obama administration suddenly refused to let investigators testify, the committee chairman said.

BP Tar Balls Still Sitting On Ocean Floor

Tar balls washed up on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico earlier this month by Tropical Storm Lee show that oil from last year’s Deepwater Horizon spill isn’t degrading as quickly as expected.

BP Back From Political Exile, Giving Big in 2012

BP has clawed its way back from political purgatory, finding itself right where it was before the Deepwater Horizon disaster: contributing significant cash to candidates happy to take it.

RADIATION:

TEPCO to Treat Contaminated Water for Use at Fukushima

Tokyo Electric Power Co. unveiled a plan on Sept. 22 to treat low-contamination water and sprinkle the treated water on the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant compound.

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Stuart H. Smith is an attorney based in New Orleans fighting major oil companies and other polluters.
Cooper Law Firm

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