Aug. 20—A Tulsa company is among nine organizations awarded projects by the  Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory targeting environmental tools and technology for shale gas and coalbed methane production.

The projects are to improve management of water resources, water usage, and water disposal, and to support science that will aid the regulatory and permitting processes required for shale gas development.

A primary goal of Fossil Energy’s Oil and Natural Gas Program is to enhance the responsible development of domestic natural gas and oil resources that supply the country’s energy. A specific objective is to accelerate the development and demonstration of technologies that will aid our country’s independent producers in dealing with use and treatment of water related to natural gas and oil production.

The following recipients will help provide the new technologies, tools, strategies, and knowledge toward reliable and environmentally responsible development of natural gas.

ALL Consulting, Tulsa, Okla.–The objective of this project is to develop a modeling system that will allow operators and regulators to plan all aspects of water management associated with shale gas development, including water supply, transport, storage, use, recycling, and disposal. This system will be used in planning, managing, forecasting, permit tracking, and compliance monitoring. (DOE share: $776,574; recipient share: $334,496; duration 36 months)

General Electrical Company, Niskayuna, N.Y.–This project will develop a low-cost, mobile process to treat the total dissolved solids in the flowback water from hydraulic fracturing operations. The researchers will develop both a flowback water pretreatment process and a membrane-based partial demineralization process that yields an effluent suitable for reuse as hydraulic fracturing water (frac water). (DOE share: $799,897; recipient share: $199,976; duration 18 months)

West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.Va.–The primary objective of this project is to develop and demonstrate a process for the frac water returns from Marcellus Shale wells. The process will include a pretreatment filter coupled with a combination of one or more treatment elements. (DOE share: $609,619; recipient share: $390,381; duration 32 months)

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.–The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a water management decision-support system by modifying and integrating a state-of-the-art water resource simulation model with a modern enterprise geographic information system (GIS). This will provide a science-based tool that can be used to support development of energy resources in the Fayetteville Shale region of Arkansas. (DOE share: $636,467; recipient share: $179,517; duration 24 months)

Ground Water Protection Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Okla.–This project will develop a new hydraulic fracturing module as an add-on to the well known Risk-Based Data Management System. The module will assist regulators and operators in enhancing protective measures for source water and streamlining the well-permitting process. (DOE share: $845,923; recipient share: $211,474; duration 24 months)

Geological Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.–The primary objective of this research is to analyze and develop strategies for water management in the CBM reservoirs of the Black Warrior basin. The study will develop a large, high-quality database and GIS that will provide a basis for more efficient development of CBM and identification of beneficial uses of produced water. (DOE share: $725,647; recipient share: $314,316; duration 36 months)

Altela Inc., Albuquerque, N.M.–This project will demonstrate that the AltelaRain technology can be successfully deployed in a cost-effective manner to treat the produced and flowback water from Marcellus Shale, and that it can operate within state and federal regulatory requirements. (DOE share: $886,025; recipient share: $912,316; duration 18 months)

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.–This project will evaluate the potential for combining and treating two waste streams (flowback water and acid mine drainage) for reuse as a frac fluid, and will also develop novel viscosity modifiers for water high in total dissolved solids. (DOE share $794,225; recipient: $269,011; duration 36 months)

Texas Engineering Experiment Station, College Station, Texas.–This project will identify an efficient and cost-effective pretreatment methodology for use in processes employed to treat and reuse field-produced brine and fracture flowback waters. The project aims to develop and demonstrate a mobile, multifunctional technology specifically for pretreatment of brine. (DOE share: $844,216; recipient share: $450,000; duration 24 months)

The total proposed value for all selected projects is $10.2 million (DOE share: $6.9 million).

Program Links

DOE’s Oil/Gas Environmental Program (http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/oilgas/environment/index.html)

DOE’s Oil/Gas Research Program (http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/oilgas/index.html)

Related Techlines

More Oil/Gas R&D Techlines (http://www.fe.doe.gov/search/fossilweb/tlquery.html?qt=keywords:oilgas&qs=&col=techline&qp=&qc=&pw=100%25&ws=0&la=&qm=0&st=1&nh=25&lk=1&rf=1&oq=&rq=0)

More Oil/Gas Environmental Techlines (http://www.fe.doe.gov/search/fossilweb/tlquery.html?qt=keywords:environment&qs=&col=techline&qp=&qc=&pw=100%25&ws=0&la=&qm=0&st=1&nh=25&lk=1&rf=1&oq=&rq=0)

Last Updated ( Friday, 21 August 2009 )

Breaking News

During a live press conference this afternoon, hosted by the Organization for America, (OFA) President Barack Obama took to the podium with one intent–to clarify his plans regarding health care reform.

After a quick introduction by Beth Kimbriel, an OFA volunteer from Virginia, he addressed the crowd amid applause. Rolling up his shirt sleeves, he stated firmly that Americans should not lose heart.

"Look at what we have accomplished so far," he said, detouring into a quick list of successes.

Some of those things include new tax breaks for 95% of working families and putting more people back to work building bridges, hospitals, and roads.

"We’re not out of the woods, but more people have been able to keep their homes," he said. "We should be proud. Confident, but not complacent."

Although the atomosphere was energetic, nothing derailed from the seriousness of the topic at hand–healthcare.

So many Americans have been misinformed. Healthcare reform is not to be feared, Obama said, indicating that the new plan will allow Americans to keep their existing doctor or their existing plan if they want.

"No one is going to take that away from you," he said. "We simply want to provide affordable options to those in working America who are self-employed, underemployed or without insurance."

This is not about providing health care for the underserved community, as most of them already have medicaid, he said.

Healthcare reform is about providing a public option to those working, who can not afford health insurance premiums.

It is also about reforming Medicaid for the long term, he continued. Ultimately, that means better benefits for Seniors and a more sustainable program in the long run.

Medicaid is going to run out of money in eight years, Obama said.

For that reason, this reform is not about taking insurance away from seniors, but insuring that they have quality care available to them in the future and insuring that they have the ability to pay for the medications that they need.

During the press conference, an audience member raised their hand to ask a question–They wanted to know if the President had any suggestions on how to motivate Americans to make healthier choices.

In the preceding discussion, Obama talked about farmers. "At this moment, we’re trying to get local farmers to the school districts to provide school children with healthier eating options," he said. "Everyone is excited about the potential, but we don’t have a distribution method yet."

Overall, Obama encouraged Americans to stay informed and challenged reporters far and wide to refute misinformation when they see it published.

Healthcare reform is part of the "Change" he wants to see as President– as far too many Americans live without it, he said.

Last Updated ( Friday, 21 August 2009 )

WASHINGTON — Two postal offices in Tulsa are among eight in the state that the U.S. Postal Service is reviewing for closure.

There are about 700 postal stations and branch offices nationwide that are under the fiscal microscope to determine if they are cost-effective locations.

USPS spokesman Greg Frey said that a case has been filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission for an advisory opinion on whether the reductions should take place, in part as a result of a weakened economy.

In Oklahoma, the Whittier and Gilcrease stations are on the hit-list. Elsewhere in the state, seven locations in Oklahoma City are being reviewed for closure.

Frey stressed it was a working document, so some locations could be removed from the list.

Small post offices wouldn’t be affected by this round of closures, according to Frey. "Our goal is to not cut off access to the postal service," he said.

The list of locations included in the latest filing was scaled down from more than 3,000.

Frey said seeking commission guidance was necessary, since it regulates branches and stations differently than post offices.

Stringent rules govern post offices, while it’s unclear when stations and branches can be consolidated or closed. So, Frey stressed the fate of locations on the current list isn’t sealed. "It was meant to be an end-all list.

It was a snapshot of the review," he said. Each site’s productivity was surveyed. The postal service is slated to file a status report at month’s end.

The list should be pruned even more by then. Frey again stressed that doesn’t mean doors would close immediately. "Once it gets in that phase, it’s still not over," he said.

Community input process would be sought, if a station or branch proves to merit more review.

Data and public input would be factors in any decision, according to Frey. A district manager would evaluate formal in-depth studies and customer comments.

If closure is deemed appropriate, the decision would be filed at the national headquarters.

A public notice would be filed 60 days prior to the planned closure. With that said, a consolidation or closure—by 2010—is unlikely, according to Frey.

"We’re looking at every way possible to live within our means," Frey said. Technology and the recession have precipitated a decline in first class mail across the board.

Frey noted the postal service entered into an agreement with its postal carriers union to update routes.

That’s translated into 10,000 fewer routes. Customers’ changing habits are also a factor. It seems 30 percent of postal retail transactions aren’t completed in stations or branches. Rather, they’re being done at ATMs or in supermarkets.

The Internet has changed the retail landscape as well.
Last Updated ( Friday, 21 August 2009 )

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service issued a press release today indicating that Bluegrass hybrids ideal for pasture and for lawns– could be developed faster using genetic markers developed by an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist.

ARS geneticist Jason Goldman at the agency’s Southern Plains Range Research Station in Woodward, Okla., identified nine DNA primers that produce markers that can verify successful bluegrass hybrids from DNA samples.

This saves time because breeders currently have to wait for the plant to mature before they can verify a hybrid by physical characteristics. The markers can be used on seedlings.

Goldman’s goal is a Kentucky bluegrass-like lawn or pasture grass that is highly tolerant to drought.

The research is part of the laboratory’s program for breeding perennial cool-season forage grasses for the southern Great Plains as alternatives to wheat and other annual crops.

Texas bluegrass is native to southern Kansas, Oklahoma, western Arkansas and most of Texas.

It tolerates heat and drought, but produces seed that is difficult to harvest and re- plant. It also lacks the turf quality of Kentucky bluegrass.

Kentucky bluegrass is not tolerant to heat and drought, but has excellent turf characteristics and produces seed that is easy to harvest and clean.

Goldman’s goal is to combine them into one variety with a broader geographic range than Kentucky bluegrass, while retaining Kentucky bluegrass’ good qualities.

The hybrid must also retain Kentucky bluegrass’ ability to produce seed that breeds true, ensuring identical progeny.

Goldman plans further tests to cross Texas bluegrass with other bluegrass species in addition to Kentucky bluegrass, and to see if the markers can be used for other purposes, such as identifying markers linked to desirable or undesirable plant traits.

This research was published in the journal Plant Breeding.

ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 18 August 2009 )

In what the White House has described as one of the longest emails they have ever sent, David Axelrod, Senior Adviser to the President issued a news release identifying key information on health care reform in an attempt to answer lingering questions.

This information was released on the heels on a new statement from the White House last night indicating that "the notion of the public option," could be growing weaker.

To help reduce the amount of misinformation, a new site for individuals to access the most up to date news on health care has been launched by the White House–www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck.
Along with the new website, Axelrod has identified key information citizens should take into consideration, such as the ways reform provides security, common myths, and reasons why we need health care reform: 8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage

Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.

End Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.

End Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.

End Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.

End Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.

Extend Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.

Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won’t be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.

Learn more and get details: www.WhiteHouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/

8 common myths about health insurance reform

Reform will stop "rationing" – not increase it: It’s a myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.

We can’t afford reform: It’s the status quo we can’t afford. It’s a myth that reform will bust the budget.

To the contrary, the President has identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs; ending big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with such steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork.

In the long term, reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a fiscal crisis. Reform would encourage "euthanasia": It does not. It’s a malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. For seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about end-of life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private consultations for those who want help with these personal and difficult family decisions.

Vets’ health care is safe and sound: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will affect veterans’ access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President’s budget significantly expands coverage under the VA, extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously excluded. The VA Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible veterans.

Reform will benefit small business – not burden it:

It’s a myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to help them pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.

Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform:

It’s myth that Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of Medicare, ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare "doughnut" hole to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.

You can keep your own insurance:

It’s myth that reform will force you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.

No, government will not do anything with your bank account:

It is an absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts. Health insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and more convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose.

Just like paying a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or by a direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they will be easier to understand. The choice is up to you – and the same rules of privacy will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people make.

Learn more and get details: www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck

www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/faq

www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq/?e=11&ref=myth1

8 Reasons We Need Health Insurance Reform Now

Coverage Denied to Millions:

A recent national survey estimated that 12.6 million non-elderly adults – 36 percent of those who tried to purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance market – were in fact discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition in the previous three years or dropped from coverage when they became seriously ill.

Learn more: www.healthreform.gov/reports/denied_coverage/index.html

Less Care for More Costs:

With each passing year, Americans are paying more for health care coverage. Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times faster than wages.

In 2008, the average premium for a family plan purchased through an employer was $12,680, nearly the annual earnings of a full-time minimum wage job. Americans pay more than ever for health insurance, but get less coverage.

Learn more: www.healthreform.gov/reports/hiddencosts/index.html

Roadblocks to Care for Women:

Women’s reproductive health requires more regular contact with health care providers, including yearly pap smears, mammograms, and obstetric care.

Women are also more likely to report fair or poor health than men (9.5% versus 9.0%). While rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are similar to men, women are twice as likely to suffer from headaches and are more likely to experience joint, back or neck pain. These chronic conditions often require regular and frequent treatment and follow-up care.

Learn more: www.healthreform.gov/reports/women/index.html

Hard Times in the Heartland:

Throughout rural America, there are nearly 50 million people who face challenges in accessing health care.

The past several decades have consistently shown higher rates of poverty, mortality, uninsurance, and limited access to a primary health care provider in rural areas.

With the recent economic downturn, there is potential for an increase in many of the health disparities and access concerns that are already elevated in rural communities.

Learn more: www.healthreform.gov/reports/hardtimes

Small Businesses Struggle to Provide Health Coverage:

Nearly one-third of the uninsured – 13 million people – are employees of firms with less than 100 workers.

From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%.

Much of this decline stems from small business. The percentage of small businesses offering coverage dropped from 68% to 59%, while large firms held stable at 99%.

About a third of such workers in firms with fewer than 50 employees obtain insurance through a spouse.

Learn more: www.healthreform.gov/reports/helpbottomline/

The Tragedies are Personal: Half of all personal bankruptcies are at least partly the result of medical expenses. The typical elderly couple may have to save nearly $300,000 to pay for health costs not covered by Medicare alone.

Learn more: www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction/

Diminishing Access to Care: From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%.

An estimated 87 million people – one in every three Americans under the age of 65 – were uninsured at some point in 2007 and 2008. More than 80% of the uninsured are in working families.

Learn more: www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction/diminishing/index.html

The Trends are Troubling: Without reform, health care costs will continue to skyrocket unabated, putting unbearable strain on families, businesses, and state and federal government budgets.

Perhaps the most visible sign of the need for health care reform is the 46 million Americans currently without health insurance – projections suggest that this number will rise to about 72 million in 2040 in the absence of reform.

Learn more:

www.WhiteHouse.gov/assets/documents/CEA_Health_Care_Report.pdf

www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/CEA_Health_Care_Report.pdf?e=11&ref=report