Free Republic

FBI and IRS agents today conducted an operation at the law office of State Senator Carlos Uresti, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports. The operation took place at Uresti's private law office on Quincy Street, just off I-35 on the north end of downtown.An FBI agent confirmed only that agents are conducting 'lawful law enforcement activity' at the office. They are being assisted by San Antonio Police, officers are keeping bystanders at bay.It is not clear what the agents are looking for. The IRS has not returned a call seeking comment. Developing

When it takes up to four million pounds of sand to frack a single well, it’s no wonder that demand is outpacing supply and frack sand producers are becoming the biggest behind-the-scenes beneficiaries of the American oil and gas boom. Demand is exploding for “frac sand”--a durable, high-purity quartz sand used to help produce petroleum fluids and prop up man-made fractures in shale rock formations through which oil and gas flows—turning this segment into the top driver of value in the shale revolution. “One of the major players in Eagle Ford is saying they’re short 6 million tons of 100...

Wisconsin’s booming hydraulic fracturing sand industry has launched a trade group to establish standards for environmentally responsible operations by member companies, which have seen a surge in business – and local opposition – with the proliferation of the fracturing technology. The Wisconsin Industrial Sand Association announced this week that some of the state’s largest sand miners formed the group and adopted standards that seek to assure neighbors that the business is safe and environmentally conscious. Members of the new organization are required to follow the rules, which also promote communication with local communities, said WISA President Rich Budinger. “Being a...

A funny thing is happening on the way to the clean energy future–reality is setting in. There is ‘incontrovertible evidence’ about the economic growth and job creating effects of America’s unconventional oil and gas production boom – more than 600,000 jobs directly attributable to shale gas development. Even President Obama is praising the job creating benefits of ‘America’s resource boom’. America is getting its energy mojo back and that is good news but not the entire story. How Much Shale Gas is there in the United States? In July 2011 US EIA released a [Review of Emerging Resources: US Shale...

Natural gas drilling through a method called high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," has become a major cause for concern and citizen uproar in Pennsylvania, where energy companies have tapped into major deposits. But this past week, environmental regulators in Pennsylvania announced that the state would be requesting further testing on water that is treated in both wastewater treatment plants and drinking water treatment plants to see if fracking water is contaminating drinking water supplies. > After the water is used in the fracking process, it's highly toxic and contains everything from carcinogens to radioactive materials to highly corrosive salts....