American Oil and Gas Reporter - July 2015 - 20

Oilfield Improvements®

ecological features.
NOAA indicates the Cordell Bank
Sanctuary, located 42 miles north of
San Francisco, will expand from 529 to
1,286 square miles. Meanwhile, the
Gulf of the Farallones Sanctuary will
expand from 1,282 to 3,295 square
miles of ocean and coastal waters, and it
has been renamed the Greater
Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
to reflect its broader boundaries.
"It's important to conserve these
special places that encourage
partnerships in science, education,
technology, management and
community," NOAA Deputy
Administrator Holly Bamford remarks.
The expansion is based on years of
public comment and research by NOAA
and its scientific partners identifying the
nutrient-rich upwelling zone as one of
the most productive in North America,
the administration says.
"This expansion is the outcome of a
tremendous collaborative effort by
government, local communities,
academia and elected officials to
provide additional protection for critical
marine resources," comments NOAA's
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Director Daniel J. Basta. "It presents a
bold vision for protecting the waters off
the northern California coast for current
and future generations." ❒

ULTRA-FLOW®
FIELD-INSTALLED

CENTRALIZERS/
PARAFFIN SCRAPERS

Full-circle Wiping
of Tubing I.D.
More Gripping
Force on Sucker Rods
More Fluid Flow-by
Volume
Longer Useful LIfe
from Longer Vanes
& Bearing Surfaces
Positive Wear
Indicators
Amodel with Glass Fill
CALL 1-800-LES WEAR
(800-537-9327) OR YOUR
Oilfield Supply Store

www.rodguides.com
®

1902 N. Yellowood Ave.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012 U.S.A.
7/6 FAX 918-250-4666

20 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

Government Proposes
Emission Standards For
Trucks, Vans & Buses

WASHINGTON-The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and
the Department of Transportation's
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration jointly have proposed
standards for medium- and heavy-duty
vehicles to improve fuel efficiency and
cut carbon dioxide emissions.
According to EPA, the standards
would lower CO2 emissions by 1 billion
metric tons, cut fuel costs by $170
billion, and reduce oil consumption by
as much as 1.8 billion barrels over the
vehicles' lifetimes.
"Once upon a time, to be proenvironment you had to be anti-big
vehicles; this rule will change that,"
maintains U.S Transportation Secretary
Anthony Foxx. "In fact, these efficiency
standards are good for the environment
and the economy. When trucks use less
fuel, shipping costs go down. It's good
news all around, especially for anyone
with an online shopping habit."
Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles

account for about 20 percent of the U.S.
transportation sector's greenhouse gas
emissions and oil use, but only
comprise about five percent of vehicles
on the road, the agency says. On a
global scale, EPA estimates heavy duty
vehicles' oil consumption and GHG
emissions will surpass those of
passenger vehicles by 2030.
The proposed vehicle and engine
performance standards will cover
model years 2021-2027, and apply to
semis, large pickup trucks and vans,
and all types and sizes of buses and
work trucks, the agency says.
The agencies indicate they also are
proposing their first efficiency and
emissions standards for trailers. The
trailer standards-which exclude certain
categories such as mobile homes-
would begin to take effect in model
year 2018, EPA says. NHTSA's
standards would take effect in 2021,
with credits available for voluntary
participation before then.
A public comment period will be
open for 60 days after the proposal is
published in the Federal Register, and
both NHTSA and EPA confirm they
will host two public hearings and
continue their policy of meeting with
stakeholders during the comment
period. ❒

CIPA Asks To Intervene
In Injection Wells Suit

SACRAMENTO, CA.-The
California Independent Petroleum
Association is asking to intervene in a
lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club and
Center for Biological Diversity that
seeks to shut in California's injection
wells.
The two anti-development groups
claim the state's Division of Oil, Gas
and Geothermal Resources is breaking
the law by allowing injection of
produced fluids from drilling operations
into aquifers defined as exempt by the
Safe Drinking Water Act. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
proposes to review state plans to update
those exemptions (AOGR, June 2015,
pg. 14).
CIPA filed a motion to intervene in
conjunction with the Western States
Petroleum Association and Independent
Oil Producers Agency. If the petitioners
are successful in forcing DOGGR to
stop injections, even though there is no
evidence of harm to drinking water,
CIPA warns that would greatly impact
its members by unnecessarily and
American Oil and Gas Reporter - July 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Oil and Gas Reporter - July 2015
