August 19, 2024

Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of August 19, 2024

National Energy Policy: DOE To Purchase 3.5 Million Barrels of Crude Oil for Strategic Petroleum Reserve ⚡
On August 6, 2024, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response announced two new solicitations for the purchase of up to 3.5 million barrels of U.S.-produced crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The first Request for Proposal (RFP) opened on August 6, 2024, and aims to secure monthly deliveries of up to 1.5 million barrels of oil to the Bayou Choctaw site in Iberville Parish, Louisiana; this RFP closed on August 13, 2024. The second RFP, posted on August 12, 2024, looks to purchase about 2.0 million barrels of oil, to be delivered to the Bryan Mound SPR site in Freeport, Texas. Proposal submissions for the Bryan Mound RFP are due on August 20, 2024. The crude oil is to be delivered to the two SPR sites from January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025.

Community Impacts: Department of the Interior Announces $52 Million in Funds for Legacy Pollution Cleanup
On August 2, 2024, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced that $52 million in funds had become available for cleanup projects relating to abandoned oil and gas wells in Colorado, Illinois, and West Virginia. According to the announcement, the funding will be used to plug wells and to restore and remediate well sites. DOI states that this funding will create jobs and protect public health and environment by preventing methane leaks.

 

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CENTER PROGRAMS & RESOURCES

Solar Law Symposium – Penn State Extension will host its virtual Solar Law Sympium. As part of the symposium, Center Staff Attorney Brook Duer will co-present a session on Penn State research about the impact of solar development on rural areas. Registration available with optional CLE credits.

Soil Health Field Day – Center Staff Attorney will present “Legal Considerations for On-Farm and Farmers’ Market Sales.” More information here.

  • August 24, 2024

Understanding the Basics of the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program – The Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) Agricultural Business Development Center (ABDC), will present the next webinar in the Understanding Agricultural Law educational series. More information here.

Fair Labor Standards Act for Farmers – the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law will present “The Fair Labor Standards Act for Farmers.” More information here

2024 Pennsylvania Agricultural Law Symposium – The Center for Agricultural and Shale Law will host the 2024 Pennsylvania Agricultural Law Symposium in-person at Penn State Law, Lewis Katz Building in University Park, PA. This day-long symposium will offer 6 CLE credits for Pennsylvania-licensed attorneys.

Follow us on Twitter @AgShaleLaw—Top #ShaleLaw HotLinks 

West Virginia natural gas production rises sharply during first full month of MVP (S&P Global)

IEA: Oil markets exhibit high volatility over recent weeks (Oil and Gas Journal)

US wind and solar on track to overtake coal this year (E&E News)

US shale companies produce more crude using fewer rigs (Reuters)

European Gas Trades Near 2024 High, Luring Imports of LNG (Rigzone)

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Penn State Farmland Energy Legal Podcast: Listen to the latest episode here.

Oil & Gas Law & Policy Resources:

Bloomberg, Oil Halts Two-Day Drop as Iran Tensions Vie With Stockpile Build (August 15, 2024)

Munoz, Macha, Recognition of Nature’s Rights: A Crucial Step in Peruvian Climate Litigation with a Human Rights Approach (August 13, 2024)

Bloomberg, Oil Steadies at End of Choppy Week as Iran Remains in Spotlight (August 16, 2024)

Sartain, Suit to Terminate Texas Oil and Gas Lease Fails for Lack of Evidence (August 16, 2024)

McFarland, Geysers of Injected Wastewater in West Texas (Aug 8, 2024)

FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PRESS RELEASES

DOE Announces $10 Million to Support Climate Resilience Centers Across America (August 15, 2024)

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESS RELEASES

EPA Awards $27B in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Grants to Accelerate Clean Energy Solutions, Combat the Climate Crisis, and Save Families Money (August 16, 2024)

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Federal Register June 1, 2024 – June 7, 2024)

Environmental Protection Agency

89 FR 66232 Rule: “Air Plan Approval; California; Ventura County Air Pollution Control District” (August 15, 2024)

Other Agencies

89 FR 66434 Notice (Department of the Interior): “Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Application Requirements for States and Tribes To Apply for Orphaned Well Site Plugging, Remediation, and Restoration Funding Consideration, and Ongoing State and Tribal Reporting Requirements for Funding Recipients” (August 15, 2024)

STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE 

PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 54, No. 31 – August 3, 2024)

 

Written by:
Victoria Dutterer, Research Assistant
Jose Rojas, Research Assistant
Jackie Schweichler, Staff Attorney