These are some of the stories we’ve been following this week.

  • An Illinois pipeline is closer to reality. The pipeline company, Dakota Access, expects decisions on several motions making their way through the courts later this month. The proposed order recommended that the project be approved and eminent domain authority be granted.
Oil refinery

Oil refinery

  • Florida counties are fighting against state lawmakers that want to limit local governments’ ability to ban fracking, instead giving authority over oil and gas exploration to the state. About 20 Florida counties and almost 40 Florida cities have ordinances banning fracking that would be preempted by the proposed legislation.
  • The owner of the Gold King Mine feels he is being victimized by the U.S. EPA. Contaminants from the mine leaked into the Animas River during maintenance by the government agency.