Author Archives: davidjkatz

About davidjkatz

The Moses family has lived on the Stillwater River since 1974, when George and Lucile Moses retired and moved to the Beehive from the Twin Cities. They’re gone now, but their four daughters (pictured at left, on the Beehive) and their families continue to spend time there, and have grown to love the area. This blog started as an email chain to keep the family informed about the threat of increased fracking activity in the area, but the desire to inform and get involved led to the creation of this blog.

Congress is currently very busy doing absolutely nothing about regulating oil and gas

Posted on June 15, 2015 by davidjkatz

Congress is well paid by the oil and gas industry to do absolutely nothing to protect communities from insufficiently regulated oil and gas drilling. And that’s exactly what they’re busy doing — nothing. Of course, the process of doing nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged baseline water testing, campaign contributions, Clean Air Act, Diana DeGette, exemptions, Frack Pack, James Inhofe, Jan Schakowsky, Jared Polis, Matt Cartwright, Orrin Hatch, Safe Drinking Water Act, Steve Daines | 3 Comments

Great Falls Tribune interview with Jim Halvorson of the Montana Board of Oil and Gas

Posted on June 12, 2015 by davidjkatz

“Drilling in the Bakken Formation in Montana has basically ceased at the current oil price, which fell dramatically last fall. There have not been many wells actually shut-in yet but there are some drilled wells that might not be put in production until the oil price improves.” Continue reading →

Posted in Fracking Information | Tagged Bakken, Great Falls Tribune, Jim Halvorson, Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation | 2 Comments

You’ve probably never heard of the Wilks brothers. They’re about to take away your property rights.

Posted on June 9, 2015 by davidjkatz

Will you be surprised when the Wilkses fund a 2017 legislative effort in Montana to strip local communities of their right to regulate what happens on their own land?

You shouldn’t be. Continue reading →

Posted in Fracking informaation | Tagged campaign contributions, Denton fracking ban, HB40, local regulation, Montana legislature, Wilks Brothers | 21 Comments

Stillwater River rock slide reminds us of the dangers of drilling

Posted on June 7, 2015 by davidjkatz

There was a rock slide out our way on the Stillwater River last week. It blocked Stillwater River Road at Midnight Canyon, and probably will for a while, so traffic to Absarokee will have to take the long way around … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History, Fracking informaation | Tagged citizen initiated zoning, earthquakes, injection wells, rock slide, Stillwater River, US Geological Survey | 4 Comments

New EPA report links fracking to water contamination. That’s great, but local regulation is still required

Posted on June 4, 2015 by davidjkatz

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday released a new draft report on the potential impact of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas on drinking water. The study concludes that there are “potential vulnerabilities in the water lifecycle that could impact … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization | Tagged BLM, Environmental Protection Agency, oil and gas industry, peer reviewed studies, water contamination | 2 Comments

Hearing on Silvertip Zone case in Red Lodge on Thursday, June 4 at 1:30pm

Posted on June 3, 2015 by davidjkatz

A hearing will be held on Thursday, June 4 in Red Lodge in the case of Martinell, et al, v. Board of County Commissioners of Carbon County, et al. This is the suit filed by residents of the proposed Silvertip … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization | Tagged Belfry, Carbon County Commissioners, Judge Blair Jones, Lawsuit, Silvertip zone | 3 Comments

Lee newspapers decide to stop covering state government. Here’s what you can do about it

Posted on June 3, 2015 by davidjkatz

“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” -Thomas Jefferson Lee Enterprises closes Helena bureau In a shocking … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History, Uncategorized | Tagged Billings Gazette, Chuck Johnson, Flathead Memo, Great Falls Tribune, Intelligent Discontent, Last Best News, Lee Enterprises, Mike Dennison, Montana Cowgirl, Watchdog function | 3 Comments

BLM update: Wyoming Beartooth lease cleared for sale

Posted on May 30, 2015 by davidjkatz

The BLM oil lease along the Beartooth Front in northern Wyoming for which public comment ended on February 23 has been cleared for sale on August 5. The BLM had earlier issued a finding of No Significant Impact against its … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization | Tagged BLM, deferral, greater sage-grouse, Line Creek Subdivision, oil lease, Wyoming | 2 Comments

Now a law: Texas measure makes local oil regulation illegal (with NPR audio)

Posted on May 20, 2015 by davidjkatz

“To these folks I say, ‘Ride your horse to work every day.’” -Todd Staples, President, Texas Oil and Gas Association Texas Governor signs bill banning local bans It’s finally happened. Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Monday signed a law barring … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged ban of bans, Denton, Governor Greg Abbott, NPR, Texas, Texas Railroad Commission | Leave a comment

Salt water spills require local regulation to protect farmers and ranchers

Posted on May 19, 2015 by davidjkatz

Farmers and ranchers in the Bakken have had an uneasy peace with the oil industry since the fracking boom started. Many receive royalty payments based on their ownership of the minerals under their land, and so they have been relatively … Continue reading →

Posted in Bakken | Tagged Bakken, brine, citizen initiated zoning, leaks, pipelines, produced water | 1 Comment