December 6, 2014
By Eric Lipton
“Outstanding!” William F. Whitsitt, who at the time directed government relations at the company, said in a note to Mr. Pruitt’s office. The attorney general’s staff had taken Devon’s draft, copied it onto state government stationery with only a few word changes, and sent it to Washington with the attorney general’s signature. “The timing of the letter is great, given our meeting this Friday with both E.P.A. and the White House.” ...
Rubber stamping complaints without committee hearings and investigative findings is not governance. It is lending government authority to a private company.
Expediency has nothing to do with computer cut and paste. As a matter of fact the Oklahoma AG should have been able to address a letter back to Devon Energy stating indeed the US EPA is conducting measurements of leaking CO2, methane and other greenhouse gases in the area. The reason is the concern for the climate crisis and preventing emissions that harms the planet and Americans any further.
The Oklahoma AG didn't have to agree it or participate in it, but, he should know the US EPA has the authority to measure and mitigate dangerous air quality according to the Clean Air Act. Just that simple.
But.
That isn't what happened. The Oklahoma AG instead of knowing the fact from Devon Energy as to their pollution or from the US EPA stating they are conducting measurements according to established laws; he opted to play politics instead of governance.
This is a Republican. Interested in power and political funding payoffs for that power. Now, instead of the AG knowing what is going on and able to respond to letters received in his office, he'll be under investigation for corruption and otherwise.
November 30, 2013
By Joe Wertz
A new comprehensive study (click here) of atmospheric data has found methane gas emissions from the Oklahoma region to be more than twice as high as previously thought. Researchers have linked the greenhouse gas emissions to oil and gas drilling and refining.
Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas alone could be responsible for nearly a quarter of the nation’s methane gas emissions, the new research suggests. That’s 3.7 percent of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions — which were also shown to be higher than previous estimates.
Livestock is a contributor, nationally. But when sensors recorded methane in Oklahoma and its neighbors, they also detected propane. Scot Miller of Harvard University led the study.
“Propane is a byproduct of the fossil fuel industry, but it’s not produced by cows, it’s not produced by most other methane source,” Miller says.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently downgraded its estimate of natural gas emissions. The new research casts doubt on that decision. The Oklahoma agency in charge of methane monitoring and control, the Department of Environmental Quality, declined to comment on the study....
