Approximately one year ago, residents of the city of Dish, Texas, raised concerns about benzene in the air as a result of natural gas operations. Those residents repeatedly called for more answers over the past year. In light of these concerns, state agencies have dedicated significant resources to determine the facts and provide residents with scientific data about air quality and their health. Read more »

Oil tumbled Thursday August 18, 2011 on worries that pinched consumers will drive less and cut spending on gasoline.

Gasoline, which is made from crude oil, should follow oil downward in coming weeks.

The national average held steady on Thursday at $3.585 per gallon. If oil stays at current levels, gasoline should fall as low as $3.25 between mid-September and mid-October, said Tom Kloza, publisher and chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service. Read more »

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A government panel on Thursday August 11, 2011  called the risk of water pollution from natural gas fracking "remote."

The U.S. Energy Department's natural gas advisory subcommittee urged regulators to require drillers to detail what chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing -- which involves blasting a mix of water, sand and chemicals into rock formations to release oil and gas -- and release more information about the drilling technique's impact. Read more »