Lawmakers Seek Inquiry of Natural Gas Industry

“Given the rapid growth of the shale gas industry and its growing importance for our country’s energy portfolio, I urge the S.E.C. to quickly investigate whether investors have been intentionally misled,” wrote Representative Maurice D. Hinchey, Democrat of New York, in one of three letters sent to the commission by four federal lawmakers, all Democrats.

The calls for investigations came amid growing questions about the environmental and financial risks surrounding natural gas drilling and especially a technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, used to release gas trapped underground in shale formations.

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Steward shows support for home rule bill

If the state strengthens home-rule authority, municipalities will have less risk of being sued and seeing their local laws overturned in court, he said.

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Two Oil and Gas Drilling Operators Sentenced on Felony Convictions for Violating The Safe Water Drinking Act

Acting United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar announced today, June 24, 2010, that a resident of Sheffield, Pennsylvania and a resident of La Quinta, California, have been sentenced in federal court in Erie as a result of their felony convictions for violating the Safe Drinking Water Act by unlawfully injecting brine produced from an oil drilling operation.

United States District Judge Sean J. McLaughlin imposed the sentences on John Morgan, age 54, of Sheffield, Pennsylvania, and Michael Evans, age 66, of La Quinta, California.  Mr. Morgan received a sentence of three years probation, a $4,000 fine, eight months home detention and eighty hours community service.  Mr. Evans received a sentence of three years probation, a $5,000 fine, ten months home detention and one hundred hours community service.

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Ohio Senate OK of drilling in state parks upsets Mohican residents

Opponents -- which include the Mohican-Loudonville Visitors Bureau, Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation and other groups -- say the state parks historically have been off-limits to drilling and allowing it would harm vistas and groundwater.

Democratic amendments on where and how drilling would be done failed to gain traction. The party holds 10 seats in the 33-member chamber.

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