The Duke team is at it again, this time with a new study that claims to have found “elevated levels of radioactivity” in a western Pennsylvania creek, which they blame on wastewater generated by Marcellus Shale development. But a closer look at the study, and the facts, tells another story — a story far different from what you’ve probably already seen in the media. Full Story >>

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Wednesday that it has endorsed a plan by Oklahoma and four other states to protect the lesser prairie chicken, a victory for those trying to keep the bird off the federal list of protected species. Full Story >>

Rep. James Lankford challenged a key Obama administration official on Thursday over his contention that domestic oil and gas production had benefited from the president's energy policies. Full Story >>

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the lesser prairie chicken as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the agency announced Thursday. The listing will have a serious effect on oil and natural gas operations in western Oklahoma and the other four states that are home to the bird. Full Story >>

The tables have turned.

Since President Obama’s election to office in 2008, the nation’s oil and natural gas producers have faced constant scrutiny from the federal regulatory agencies under White House control.

Hearings were held. The media spotlight was shined squarely on the oil and natural gas industry.

Now those federal agencies are preparing for a taste of their own medicine.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week postponed its decision on whether to list the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species. Full Story >>

OIPA sent the following comments to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance in January:

Please accept the following comments in response to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance’s November 21, 2013, discussion draft on proposed changes to the U.S. Tax Code’s cost recovery and tax accounting rules. Full Story >>

The OIPA’s regulatory affairs team is monitoring the Bureau of Land Management’s notice of intent to prepare a Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Full Story >>

The American Petroleum Institute submitted comments to the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management criticizing the agency's proposed rule on hydraulic fracturing on federal and Native American lands as costly and providing little or no environmental or safety benefit. Full Story >>

On Friday, the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association filed an amicus brief in support of the Oklahoma Attorney General's office asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the decision of the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Murphy v. Royal. Full Story >>

Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe isn't upset Rolling Stone called him one of the "planet's worst enemies." He is, however, a little peeved he wasn't ranked higher. Full Story >>

In a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren announced his opposition to rule changes regarding domestic oil and gas production on federal lands. Full Story >>

A pair of Democratic Senators announced they would not seek re-election and Republicans are already favored to take one seat. Full Story >>

Election-year politics will slow down attempts at broad climate-change legislation and could derail the effort altogether. Full Story >>

This isn't technically oil and gas related, but it is an interesting look at the world of politics. Full Story >>

Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe spent 18 hours in the air and four hours on the ground for the United Nations climate change meeting ensuring his point of view was heard. Full Story >>

Twenty-two Democratic Congressmen have sent a letter to EPA head Lisa Jackson with their advice on the agency's review of hydraulic fracturing. Full Story >>

Senate Democrats have now said time has run out for climate change legislation this year. Full Story >>

The push for climate change legislation has fallen so far down the list of priorities in Congress one key committee chairman says it might have to wait until after the 2010 elections. Full Story >>

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will begin work today on climate change legislation despite the threat of a boycott from Republican members of the committee. Full Story >>

Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson, saying his constituents have not been sold on a cap-and-trady system, has announced the climate bills offered will not pass the Congress this session. Full Story >>

Led by Oklahoma's Jim Inhofe, Republican members of the Senate's environmental committee are threatening a boycott to slow the advancement of the Senate's climate change bill Full Story >>

Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren appeared on CNBC's "Mad Money," touting natural gas as an important fuel source for the nation's future and debunking concerns about hydraulic fracturing. Full Story >>

As his Senate environment committee takes up climate change legislation, Sen. Jim Inhofe has found himself at the center of the storm. Full Story >>

House Speaker Chris Benge testified before Congress about his legislative efforts to secure natural gas as a viable transportation alternative fuel option as opposed to foreign oil. Full Story >>

Oklahoma lawmakers have authored a bill that would ease regulations on natural gas conversion kits for vehicles. Full Story >>

GQ, the men's magazine focused on fashion, has got a thing for Oklahoma's junior senator. Full Story >>

The nation's energy policy debate has become a showdown between Ds and Rs in Washington, but natural gas producers may have one of their biggest proponents in President Obama's White House Chief of Staff. Full Story >>

South Carolina's Lindsey Graham has become the GOP's newest Senate maverick. The man who replaced Strom Thurmond in office has discussed legislative compromises with Sen. John Kerry in negotiations on the Senate's climate bill giving Democrats hope that they've found the missing link in defeating a Senate filibuster. Full Story >>

The future of the Senate's cap-and-trade bill will rely on the decision of 21 'fence sitters.'
Full Story >>

The U.S. Senate will unveil it's official version of climate change legislation today, but an unofficial debut of the bill has already caused a stir. Full Story >>

Executives from the nation's largest energy producers are ramping up their efforts to promote natural gas in Washington, D.C.
Full Story >>

Michael Morris, president of AEP, says climate change legislation could be a good thing. If written correctly, action from Congress would at least keep the EPA from regulating carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act. Full Story >>

During a speech on the Senate floor earlier this month, Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe read a number of quotes from Democrats raising concerns with cap-and-trade. Full Story >>

Independent producers remain under attack in President Obama's proposed budget.
Full Story >>

U.S. Reps. Mary Fallin and Jason Altmire led a field hearing on the nation's energy policy and its impact on small business Tuesday, and the OIPA was well represented.
Full Story >>

Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe continues the argument against cap-and-trade legislation and is one of hundreds of lawmakers on all levels of government to sign the Americans for Prosperity "No Climate Tax Pledge."
Full Story >>

American Solutions, an organization led by Newt Gingrich, is pushing to defeat cap-and-trade legislation, calling the bill a tax on energy. Full Story >>

Coal's well-funded lobbying group today launched a television ad campaign featuring ordinary people talking about the importance of low-cost electricity. Full Story >>

U.S. Rep. John Sullivan has criticized a recently-released report that claims Oklahoma is one of 10 states not currently working toward reducing its dependency on oil. Full Story >>

U.S. EPA Adminstrator Lisa Jackson has denied a request from Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe to perform a new economic analysis of the House-passed climate and energy bill. Full Story >>

Ten moderate Senate Democrats from states dependent on coal and manufacturing sent a letter to President Obama saying they would not support any climate change bill that did not protect American industries from competition from countries that did not impose similar restraints on climate-altering gases. Full Story >>

A stream of new money flowed into the U.S. House of Representatives during debate on the recently-passed cap-and-trade bill, and millions of dollars of fresh cash came from groups hiring climate lobbyists for the first time. Full Story >>

U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, delivered a floor speech highlighting the nation's vast reserve of energy resources recoverable through hydraulic fracturing techniques. Full Story >>

In the global warming debate, sparsely populated North Dakota could prove to be the deciding factor. With two Democratic Senators, both of whom sit on committees holding court on the House climate bill, the state known for its badlands could possess crucial swing votes. Full Story >>

Oklahoma's lone Democrat in Washington, D.C., Congressman Dan Boren gave a less-than-enthusiastic appraisal of his party's energy proposals. Full Story >>

A Senate hearing on clean energy went awry, when Harry Alford, the president and chief executive of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, claimed the discussion was tinged with racial overtones. Full Story >>

The House-approved cap-and-trade legislation already faces a battle in the U.S. Senate, and now, former proponents of the idea are reluctant to support the bill. Full Story >>

An EPA research analyst claims his report on global warming was squashed by supervisors fearing a “very negative impact" on the agency. Full Story >>

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette is moving ahead with her bill to put hydraulic fracturing under federal oversight while also seeking a study to gather more data on the practice. Full Story >>

Will Work With Oklahoma's senior Senator says his colleagues will pass a bill this year promoting the use of natural gas as transportation fuel. Full Story >>

Federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing would cost the United States billions of dollars and decrease oil and natural gas exploration by 20 percent. Full Story >>

Devon Energy CEO Larry Nichols says cap-and-trade bill unfairly targets oil and natural gas producers. Full Story >>

Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas put pen to paper for The Hill, a congressional newspaper with a special focus on business and lobbying. In an article for the newspaper, Lucas says the EPA is out of touch. Although his comments are focused on agriculture, other industries are in a similar position.
Full Story >>

Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn is part of an 18-member commission that has been given the task of finding ways to reduce the country's debt. Part of the plan, which the committee will vote on this week, calls for the end of oil and gas industry tax provisions such as the percentage depletion allowance and intangible drilling costs. Full Story >>

Tax provisions for the oil and natural gas industry could be back on the table as lawmakers push to extend tax cuts enacted during George W. Bush's presidency.
Full Story >>

Dan Boren has been given a position of leadership with the Blue Dog Democrats, fiscally conservative Democrats whose goal is to represent the "center" of the U.S. House. Full Story >>

Hollye Hunt has been named the vice president of legislative affairs for the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association. Full Story >>

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett was in Washington to hear the president's plan to boost spending by $50 billion for transportation. Where that money comes from is what concerned the city leader. Full Story >>

President Obama's weekly radio address promoted the growth of "clean energy," saying "failed energy policies" profited oil and gas companies while weakening the economy and renewable energy jobs will be the future of this country's economy. Full Story >>

President Obama has introduced his proposal to reduce the federal deficit, and in a surprise to no one, he has once again targeted the oil and natural gas industry. Full Story >>

President Obama announced plans on Labor Day for a $50 billion investment in road, railways and airport runways. Where will that money come from? The oil and natural gas industry of course. Full Story >>

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., used an appearance at the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association to roll out his energy plan on Sept. 2.

Rubio spoke to a gathering of OIPA directors, Wildcatters Club members, DEPA supporters and the press and declared his support for lifting the crude oil export ban, which would promote U.S. energy independence and strengthen ties with our allies. Full Story >>

Presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz held a Wildcatters Town Hall event Thursday morning at the OIPA offices. Cruz spoke to about 100 supporters and members of OIPA’s Wildcatters Club.

Cruz said America is in crisis right now.

“This isn’t a typical time in politics,” he said. “I think it’s now or never. We’re bankrupting our grandkids. Wages are stagnant. The lowest percentage of Americans are working today than at any time since 1978.
Full Story >>

During an interview on "Meet the Press," White House Energy Adviser Carol Browner said the president hasn't given up hope that an energy bill will get passed this year. Full Story >>

Battle lines are being drawn in the U.S. Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Democratic leaders unveiled its energy bill. Full Story >>

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has given environmentalists new hope in pushing for more stringent regulations on oil and gas production in the United States. Full Story >>

North Dakota's Earl Pomeroy, a noted Blue Dog Democrat the the U.S. House of Representatives, is asking leadership to turn down any new regulations on hydraulic fracturing. Full Story >>

A bill by California Congressman Henry Waxman that would impose new regulation on both offshore and onshore drilling has been put on hold. Full Story >>

OIPA chairman Bob Sullivan appeared before Congress, offering a first hand account of how EPA's enforcement practices negatively impact oil and gas production in Oklahoma and across the country.
Full Story >>

Rep. Diane DeGette, D-Colo., is expected to offer an amendment today in the House Energy and Commerce Committee requiring public disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. Full Story >>

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency told a House committee that she favored natural gas production and said she didn’t know of any “proven case” in which hydraulic fracturing had affected drinking water. Lisa Jackson's comments came during questioning from U.S. lawmakers, who chastised the EPA for injecting uncertainty into energy development and slowing job growth.
Full Story >>

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hasn't given up on climate change legislation and says his Democratic caucus will meet in June to discuss how to move the bill forward. Full Story >>

In a bid to eliminate tax provisions for the oil and natural gas industry, House Democrats plan to force a vote on eliminating the Section 199 domestic manufacturing tax credit for the five largest oil companies. Full Story >>

As government and industry officials continue to weigh the environmental and economic impacts of BP's offshore accident that continues to leak oil into the Gulf, some lawmakers are, predictably, using the catastrophic event to push for alternative fuels and punishment for the oil and gas industry. Full Story >>

Plans by the Obama administration to scrap billions of dollars in tax provisions has independent producers across the nation, including Oklahoma's Devon Energy, up in arms, Full Story >>

The head of the EPA defended the agency's newest study of hydraulic fracturing in Congress, saying the completion technique could contaminate water supplies. Full Story >>

Oklahoma Congressman John Sullivan, along with Arkansas Democrat Mike Ross, called on their fellow lawmakers to resist efforts to increase federal regulation on hydraulic fracturing. Full Story >>

Say what you want about illegal immigration, but this weekend the controversial subject forced Senators hoping to unveil climate change and energy legislation to change their plans. Full Story >>

UPDATE: EPA region 6 administrator Al Armendariz has resigned after Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla, made public Armendariz's 2010 remarks that he sought to "crucify" companies that don't follow environmental regulations.  Top administrator Lisa Jackson accepted Armendariz's resignation. "I respect the difficult decision he made and his wish to avoid distracting from the important work of the agency," Jackson said in a statement.

Full Story >>

Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe continues to be the leading voice when it comes to opposing climate change legislation and in an interview with the political newspaper Politico, he continues his efforts. Full Story >>

T. Boone Pickens, the grand poobah of oil and gas prognostication, appeared before the House Ways and Means Committee, telling members of the powerful House committee the nation's energy policy should be focused on converting the nation's large trucks and buses to natural gas. Full Story >>

Senate leaders pushing for an energy bill that tackles climate change are pushing for an Earth Day deadline, and thanks to President Obama's recent move to open more of America’s coastlines to oil and natural gas production, negotiations are now focused on drilling. Full Story >>

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jeff Cloud offered his views on hydraulic fracturing in congressional testimony, pointing out that the process has been used safely in Oklahoma for more than 40 years. Full Story >>

Oklahoma Congressmen Dan Boren and John Sullivan have introduced a revised version of legislation designed to boost use of natural gas, with hopes that President Barack Obama's embrace of the legislation will ensure its passage this year. Full Story >>

President Obama's announcement on offshore drilling has political and energy pundits across the nation offering opinions, and the Houston Chronicle's Loren Steffy says Obama's oil move raises more questions than answers. Full Story >>

Has President Barack Obama had a change of heart? After spending the first two years of his administration pushing for the repeal of tax provisions vital to oil and natural gas production, during a speech Wednesday, the President said the country must encourage domestic crude oil production and the increased use of natural gas as a transportation fuel. Full Story >>

President Obama announced the opening more of America’s coastlines to oil and natural gas drilling, but his big news was met with skepticism from Oklahoma oil and gas producers, including a trio of OIPA board members. Full Story >>

In 2008, in the midst of a presidential campaign, Barack Obama blasted John McCain's proposal to increase oil and natural gas drilling off the coast of Florida. At the time, Obama said such a move would only "worsen our addiction to oil." Full Story >>

A rundown of oil and natural gas industry news from around the state, nation and world:
• Trump’s executive order undoes Obama-era climate policies
• Weatherford’s Ruscev warns of domestic overproduction
• U.S. shale enlists genetics to boost output
• Oil drillers face an angry mob in Mexico’s guerrilla country Full Story >>

After an exhausting debate on health care, Congressional leaders are looking to the energy industry to rally support for climate change legislation by including language that would protect hydraulic fracturing from additional EPA regulations. Full Story >>

CNBC Mad Money host Jim Cramer, a proponent of natural gas production, interviews New York Rep. Maurice Hinchey, questioning his support of additional hydraulic fracturing regulations. Full Story >>

Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe continues to be the leading advocate of the oil and natural gas industry in the nation's capital, defending the use of hydraulic fracturing and continuing his battle against Al Gore and global warming hysteria. Full Story >>

Barbara Boxer, the Senate's leading cap-and-trade proponent and Sen. Jim Inhofe's nemesis on the Environment and Public Works Committee, is seeking her fourth term this year. Her primary opponent is former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who's behind in the polls but leading in campaign ad creativity. Full Story >>

Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren continues his support of the oil and natural gas industry, this time joining Pennsylvania's Tim Murphy in penning a letter to their House colleagues who continue to question hydraulic fracturing. Full Story >>

Oklahoma's Tom Coburn is teaming with Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin to end tax credits for ethanol. The two U.S. Senators introduced a bill that would repeal the 45 cents-per-gallon credit refiners receive for mixing ethanol into gasoline. Full Story >>

In 1977, Tony Vaughn was an Oral Roberts University student looking for a job. His wife, Lisa, had a friend who knew of a small consulting company with an opening for a general office worker. Vaughn applied. He didn’t get the job.
Full Story >>

Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren is one of three Democrats crossing party lines in an effort to prevent the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. Full Story >>

Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas has joined Republican leaders in an attempt to prevent the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. Full Story >>

Leaders from the OIPA will be in the nation's capital this week as part of the IPAA's annual fly-in, a face-to-face lobbying campaign that will put independent producers in meetings with lawmakers and aides from about 70 congressional offices. Full Story >>

Lawrence McQuillan, director of business and economic studies at the Pacific Research Institute, points out the problems in President Obama's approach to energy. Full Story >>

Oklahoma has seen it's fair share of winter weather recently. First, there was a blizzard in December. Then an ice storm in January. With more snow on the way, the state's senior senator, Jim Inhofe, is continuing his opposition to Al Gore and the former vice president's global warming theories.
Full Story >>

The two Congressman who brought you cap-and-trade and now turning their attention to hydraulic fracturing. Full Story >>

OIPA congratulates Scott Pruitt on his confirmation to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. As a businessman and public servant, Scott Pruitt understands the impact regulation and legislation have in the business world, and the rational and reasonable approach to energy regulation he will offer gives energy-producing states like Oklahoma greater hope for a brighter future. Full Story >>

The White House released it's budget blueprint Monday, and, once again, the Obama administration is taking aim at the oil and natural gas industry. Full Story >>

Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe is leading an effort to block EPA from regulating carbon emissions, a move that, unsurprisingly, has drawn criticism from Democrats. Full Story >>

Scott Pruitt’s confirmation by the EPW committee is a step in the right direction for Oklahoma’s oil and natural gas industry. For the past eight years, increased, unnecessary and burdensome regulations have been put in place by a White House administration bent on slowing oil and natural gas production. Full Story >>

President Barack Obama continued his attack on the oil and natural gas industry during his State of the Union address, calling for the repeal of tax provisions for the petroleum industry and saying there is no need to "subsidize yesterday's energy." Full Story >>

The White House announced Monday that senior climate and energy policy adviser Carol Browner will resign, and her departure is a signal that attempts to enact comprehensive climate legislation have come to an end. Full Story >>

The Hill reports that Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are working on a bill to limit EPA’s climate authority. The bill, energy subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) said, will be unveiled in the next four to six weeks.
Full Story >>

A new study presented by the American Petroleum Institute shows the economic impact of increased taxes on the oil and natural gas industry. Full Story >>

Not everyone was happy with the API's report on the economic impact of the oil and natural gas industry. Native Oklahoman and noted energy expert T. Boone Pickens was critical of the report, saying it failed to highlight the benefits of natural gas as a transportation fuel. Full Story >>

Gasoline prices are at $3 and rising, and the folks at American Solutions have put together a list of reasons why it's Obama's fault. Full Story >>

Bernard Weinstein, the associate director of the Maguire Energy Institute, says Obama's energy plans threaten the nation's economy and security. Full Story >>

BP's accident in the Gulf of Mexico could lead to tighter restrictions for onshore producers as lawmakers continue to weight the safety procedures for drilling. Full Story >>