Jul 23 U.S. proposes new rules to curb oil train fires By Associated Press WASHINGTON -- Thousands of older rail tank cars that carry crude oil would be phased out within two years under regulations proposed Wednesday in response to a series of fiery train crashes over the past year, including a runaway oil… Continue reading
Jun 15 Some high-risk oil and gas wells not inspected by feds By Associated Press Four in 10 new oil and gas wells near national forests and fragile watersheds or otherwise identified as higher pollution risks escape federal inspection, unchecked by an agency struggling to keep pace with America's drilling boom, according to an Associated… Continue reading
May 14 Federal government says oil and gas well oversight needs improvement By Associated Press WASHINGTON -- The federal agency tasked with managing oil and gas development on Wednesday acknowledged it needed to do more to improve oversight of drilling, pointing to a lack of funding as reasons it failed to inspect oil and gas… Continue reading
May 11 Thousands of oil and gas wells left unchecked by government inspectors By Associated Press The government has failed to inspect thousands of oil and gas wells it considers potentially high risks for water contamination and other environmental damage, congressional investigators say. Continue reading
May 11 Watch Crude oil brings boom times and safety concerns to North Dakota By PBS News Hour In North Dakota an oil boom has transformed the state's economy. Nearly a million barrels of crude come out of the ground each day in the state, and instead of traveling by pipeline, most North Dakota oil goes by rail. Continue watching
May 10 As oil booms in North Dakota, questions of rail safety linger By Stephen Fee After a series of fiery derailments over the past year -- including a deadly incident in Quebec last summer -- regulators and policy makers are asking questions about the safety of oil by rail. Continue reading
May 07 Emergency order requires crude oil shippers to disclose train routes By Joan Lowy, Associated Press The emergency order requires that each railroad operating trains containing more than 1 million gallons of crude oil — the equivalent of about 35 tank cars — from the booming Bakken region of North Dakota, Montana and parts of Canada… Continue reading
Apr 11 Libya's oil slowly comes back online after deal, driving speculation By Andy Swab New protests in Libya on Friday soured a lucrative oil deal between the parliament in Tripoli and rebel groups in the eastern part of the country. The protests shut down an oil terminal and refinery at Zawiya, located 28 miles… Continue reading
Mar 24 25 years later, scientists still spot traces of oil from Exxon Valdez spill By Ashley Ahearn, KUOW/EarthFix Twenty-five years ago the Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, Calif., ran aground off of the south coast of Alaska. The vessel released 11 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound, polluting 1,300 miles of coastline. Continue reading
Mar 17 SEALs capture former North Korean tanker loaded with stolen Libyan oil By Associated Press The SEALs boarded the tanker Morning Glory late Sunday in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea near Cyprus. Rear Adm. John Kirby said no one was injured in the operation, which was approved by President Barack Obama. Continue reading