Category Archives: Community Organization, Politics and History

Silvertip landowners appeal to Montana Supreme Court

Posted on August 12, 2015 by davidjkatz

“The ability of neighboring landowners to unilaterally strip us of our right to protect our properties will remain an obstacle to local control throughout Montana unless the state Supreme Court decides this important issue.” Continue reading →

Posted in Bakken, Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged Bonnie Martinell, Carbon County Commissioners, citizen initiated zoning, Energy Corporation of America, John Mork, Judge Blair Jones, local control, Silvertip zone | 3 Comments

Time for the Montana Board of Oil and Gas to step forward on setbacks

Posted on August 7, 2015 by davidjkatz

The Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation (BOGC) will take up the issue of whether to begin rulemaking on establishing oil and gas setbacks — the minimum distance between oil and gas wells and homes or other occupied buildings … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged action alert, Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation, setbacks | 9 Comments

Important documents for Thursday’s meeting on the Stillwater River Road closure

Posted on July 29, 2015 by davidjkatz

” When these seeps are no longer visible, then it is our opinion the risk of failure is basically the same as it was before the recent rock slide. Assuming some risk is acceptable, then it is our opinion the road can be cleared and opened when the visible seeps are no longer apparent.“ Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged Stillwater County Commissioners, Stillwater River Road | 2 Comments

Stillwater County residents: public meeting on Stillwater River Road closure this Thursday

Posted on July 28, 2015 by davidjkatz

There will be a public meeting to discuss the Stillwater River Road closure at the Nye Fire Hall on Thursday, July 30 at 6:30pm. All three Stillwater County Commissioners are expected to be in attendance. Stillwater River Road was closed … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged rockslide, Stillwater County, Stillwater County Commissioners, Stillwater River | 1 Comment

BREAKING. Decision in Silvertip Zone case (video)

Posted on July 14, 2015 by davidjkatz

In a narrow ruling that demonstrates how government at all levels conspires to deprive small landowners of their rights, Judge Blair Jones ruled last week that: The Silvertip Zone petition did not meet Carbon County standards that had been established … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged Carbon County Commissioners, Carbon County Resolution 2009-16, citizen initiated zoning, Judge Blair Jones, Silvertip zone | 7 Comments

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

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

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

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

Another oil and gas commission ignores citizen rights (with video)

Posted on March 30, 2015 by davidjkatz

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission proposed an injection well in Sioux County to dispose of wastewater from oil exploration. This wasn’t wastewater from local oil activity. This was an out-of-state … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History, Uncategorized | Tagged Belfry Permit, Belfry well, fracking wastewater, Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation, Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, trade secrets, wastewater injection wells | 2 Comments