The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting groundwater testing in Van Buren County.

The testing began July 6 and is continuing. Tom Kimmons of the county Gas and Oil Advisory Board and the Shirley Community Development Corp. said Monday all the samples should be collected this week.

The USGS is testing for chloride concentrations, conductivity, pH and temperature, as well as methane in groundwater at 100 locations throughout the county. Read more »

Arkansas has sufficient regulations to manage the state’s natural gas industry but is running out of grant money for extra help brought in to monitor gas operations, the head of the state’s pollution control agency told lawmakers today.

Teresa Marks, director of the state Department of Environmental Quality, said a $1.09 million grant that allowed her department to hire four additional natural gas inspectors, a supervisor and two enforcement analysts runs out at the end of the fiscal year in June. Read more »

Arkansas' top environmental official said Tuesday September 14, 2011 that she believes her department has "sufficient" regulatory authority over natural gas drilling in Arkansas but says she wants to keep additional inspectors funded through an agreement with the Game and Fish Commission. Read more »

Tuesday’s earthquake had no impact on Marcellus Shale drilling operations in Pennsylvania.
   
“The earthquake in Virginia that was felt in parts of Pittsburgh had no impact on our operations,” said Matt Pitzarella, spokesman for Range Resources. 
    Read more »