Effective August 15, 2008, employers will no longer be able to prevent employees from carrying firearms onto employer property if those firearms are in locked, privately-owned vehicles. The change is the result of Senate Bill 51, which was sponsored by Sen. Joe McPherson and signed into law as Act No. 684 by Governor
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U.S. Supreme Court Rules that Punitive Damages Must Equal Compensatory Damages in Federal Maritime Law
By: April Rolen-Ogden
Exxon Shipping Co., et al. v. Baker, et al. involved a class action that was filed by commercial fisherman and native Alaskans against Exxon and its tanker captain for economic losses suffered as a result of the now infamous Exxon Valdez oil spill that occurred in 1989.
On the night of …
Jindal signs ethics laws
On Tuesday, February 26, the Louisiana Legislature adjourned a special session called by newly-elected Governor Bobby Jindal in the hope of enacting sweeping changes to Louisiana ethics laws relating to elected officials and other state administrators. The session resulted in the passage of a number of bills designed to increase transparency with respect to state officials’ financials,…
Renewable Energy & Conservation Tax Act of 2008
By Katie Caswell
The House Ways and Means Committee has introduced HR 5351, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008, which eliminates the manufacturing tax credit for major oil and gas companies and locks the credit at six percent for other producers and refiners. Further, this bill would force oil and gas…
EIA Report – Product Prices and Pipeline News
The Energy Information Agency reported as follows in its September 13, 2007, report:
Since Wednesday, September 5, natural gas spot prices increased as tropical storms threatened to disrupt supplies and pipeline explosions in Mexico stirred concerns of supply security. Crude oil recorded yet another record high, increasing over $4 per barrel to nearly $80.
|
Commodity |
…
EIA Lastest News – Product Prices & Pipeline News
Since Wednesday, August 29, natural gas spot prices increased in most markets (exceptions were Florida and Rocky Mountain region). Crude oil was up over $2 per barrel.
|
Commodity |
Price or Volumes |
Change since last |
% Change |
|
Natural Gas Spot (Henry Hub) |
$5.81/MMBtu |
UP $0.17 |
3.0% |
|
NYMEX (September deliveries) |
$5.805/MMBtu |
UP $0.22 |
4.0% |
|
Natural |
…
Latest EIA Report – product prices and pipeline news
Since Wednesday, August 15, all prices reported in the weekly chart (for both natural gas and crude oil) have decreased as Hurricane Dean failed to have a significant impact on domestic production in the Gulf of Mexico, and temperatures moderated demand. Natural gas volumes in storage continue to increase.
|
Commodity |
Price or Volumes |
Change since |
…
OPA Does Not Preclude State Law Claims for Additional Compensation
By Drew Spaniol
The Eastern District of Louisiana recently held that the Oil Pollution Liability and Compensation Act (OPA), 33 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq., does not preclude a plaintiff from bringing state law claims for additional liability or compensation. Isla Corp. v. Sundown Energy, LP, 2007 WL 1240212 (
E.D. La.…
MMS Preparations for Hurricane Season
In preparation for hurricane season, which began on June 1, the Minerals Management Service has established a web site that brings together extensive hurricane-related information and resources. The web site is designed to describe and explain improvements instituted since Hurricane Season 2005, when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita cut a destructive path through the Gulf of …
Baker Institute’s Study of National Oil Companies
Recently, Amy Myers Jaffe of Rice University’s Baker Institute spoke to the Women’s Energy Network of Houston on the topic of "The Changing Role of National Oil Companies in International Energy Markets." One interesting fact she presented is that, based on the amount of oil and gas reserve holdings, 14 of the…