Oil and Gas Watch News

News Briefs

August 27, 2025
Study: Oil and gas air pollution leads to 91,000 early deaths per year in U.S.

A recent study found that air pollution from the U.S. oil and gas industry is responsible for tens of thousands of premature deaths and other poor health outcomes.

August 27, 2025
Meetings planned Sept. 2, 4 on water quality permits for NC natural gas pipeline

North Carolina regulators will hold two public meetings on Sept. 2 and 4 regarding a proposed 28-mile gas pipeline in the northern part of the state.

August 27, 2025
Protections stripped from rare prairie chicken threatened by oil and gas

A federal judge in Texas reversed a decision to add the lesser prairie chicken, whose range includes the Permian Basin of eastern New Mexico and West Texas, to the Endangered Species List.

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News Articles

Brendan Gibbons
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August 21, 2025

Trump Administration tries to slash funding for chemical disaster oversight

The White House has proposed eliminating funding by 2026 for the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, an independent agency that investigates chemical disasters, issues plain-language reports on their causes, and recommends reforms to prevent similar disasters. In addition to targeting the agency, Trump’s EPA has also signaled that it would roll back a rule finalized in 2024 meant to require better planning for chemical disasters.

Alexandra Shaykevich
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August 14, 2025

Dubious claims of chemical plastics ‘recycling’ industry run into reality

At least 38 projects involving the use of heat or chemicals to break down plastic waste have been proposed across the country, and three plants are currently under construction, two in Georgia and one in West Virginia. But the future of these projects is highly uncertain, as companies struggle with high costs, low output, and the loss of government subsidies. Only 9 chemical recycling plants are operating in the U.S. today after four facilities shut down because of technical and financial troubles.

Tom Pelton
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August 7, 2025

Louisiana LNG terminal plans massive expansion – and neighbors are fearful

On July 15, the Arlington, Virginia-based Venture Global Capital announced plans to roughly double the size of Plaquemines LNG, asking FERC to approve an expansion to as much as 52 million metric tons per year, making it one of the largest LNG terminals in the world. The more than doubling of the plant’s capacity could more than double its pollution impact. Since the rise of the hydraulic fracturing boom in the U.S., eight LNG export terminals have been built, four more are under construction, and 28 more projects to build or expand export facilities are proposed.

Brendan Gibbons
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July 31, 2025

Facing gag order, Louisiana scientist resigned in protest. The support came pouring in.

Facing a gag order imposed on her by university leadership because her study on racial discrimination in petrochemical industry jobs reportedly angered Louisiana’s governor, Dr. Kimberly Terrell of Tulane University’s Environmental Law Clinic could remain silent and sacrifice her scientific integrity. Or she could resign in protest, speaking out publicly about an important issue and shining a light on the pressure campaign to keep her silent. She chose the second option.

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