Powder River Basin Resource Council

Groups want Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to address development issues.

Irina Zhorov — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:12:40 +0000

A coalition of Wyoming groups has filed a rulemaking petition to the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to address oil and gas development in the state.

The petition focuses on three main issues: increasing the setback of drilling rigs from homes, schools and businesses, adequate enforcement in the case of accidents and spills…and reducing the practice of flaring. Powder River Basin Resource Council’s Jill Morrison says flaring has been a recognized problem for some time.

Report says states need to better monitor water usage by the oil and gas industry

Irina Zhorov — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:38:47 +0000

A report by the Western Organization of Resource Councils says the oil and gas industry is using at least seven billion gallons of water per year in just four states: Colorado, Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota. The report says after industry is done with that water, it turns into a hazardous material, and in some cases cannot be reused for other purposes.

Powder River Basin Resource Council member Robert LeResche says he’s also worried about states’ lack of regulations regarding the quantity of water used.

Fracking chemical disclosure decision appealed to WY Supreme Court

Irina Zhorov — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:32:10 +0000

Public interest groups that lost a suit about disclosing fracking chemicals are appealing that decision to the Wyoming Supreme Court. Groups like Earthjustice and the Powder River Basin Resource Council argue that the separate chemicals used in the fracking process should be public information under the Wyoming Public Records Act. A Wyoming District court Judge sided in March with the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission as well as industry when it ruled that not disclosing chemical identities when they are deemed a trade secret is permissible.

Oil & gas inspectors not keeping up with growing energy development

Irina Zhorov — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 00:13:55 +0000

The Western Organization of Resource Councils says inspections of active oil and gas wells in the West are falling behind the industry’s quick growth. The new report says the number of active oil and gas wells in Wyoming has risen from about 16,400 in 1999 to more than 37,000 in 2011. The number of inspectors increased from 6 to 12 in the same time period. Each inspector was responsible for more than 3,000 wells in 2011.

Powder River Basin Resource Council Board Chairman John Fenton says that spreads each inspector thin.

Environmental group calls for groundwater protection measures

Willow Belden — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:57:00 +0000

The Powder River Basin Resource Council has drawn up a list of recommendations to protect groundwater resources during energy production.

The group’s Jill Morrison says they want the state to document how much water is available in aquifers, and to limit how much water can be used for oil and gas production in certain areas where water resources are scarce.

“Because we know, for example, in the Powder River Basin, we’ve really drawn down our main aquifer that supplies domestic use … through the coalbed methane development,” Morrison said.

Court Rules In Favor Of Powder River Basin Coal Leases

Willow Belden — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:27:02 +0000

A federal district court judge in Washington, D.C. ruled against several conservation groups, who had challenged the BLM over new coal leases in the Powder River Basin.

The leases would let Cloud Peak Energy mine more than 400-million tons of coal. Shannon Anderson with the Powder River Basin Resource Council says her group opposes the plan because they feel coal companies haven’t been doing adequate reclamation of mines.

Groups sue to stop Fortification Creek development

Bob Beck — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:14:28 +0000

Two Wyoming conversation groups have joined others in suing to protect the Fortification Creek area of the Powder River Basin from natural gas development.

The Wyoming Outdoor Council and Powder River Basic Resource Council complain that the Bureau of Land Management approved a plan to allow coalbed methane development in an area that was previously protected from energy development.

Retired B-L-M Wildlife Biologist Larry Gerard says the move surprised him because the area is filled with wildlife.

Proposed bill would expand state's eminent domain authority

Sara Hossaini — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:38:25 +0000

A proposed bill by Sen.

Pavillion residents fear Encana could shirk cleanup duties through land sale

Tristan Ahtone — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:07:49 +0000

Residents of the town of Pavillion say a company called Legacy Reserves LP has entered an agreement to purchase natural gas properties in the area from the current owner, Encana.

Representatives from Legacy Reserves did not return calls to confirm the sale, but according to their website, the Midland, Texas-based company will purchase several properties in Freemont County, where Pavillion is located, for 45-million dollars.