October 27, 2025
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of October 27, 2025
Public Lands: Congressional Review Act Invoked Against BLM Management Plans ⚡
On October 8, 2025, the U.S. Senate approved a resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) aimed at overturning the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) resource management plan (RMP) for the Miles City Field Office in Montana. The Senate also voted to approve similar resolutions of the North Dakota Field Office and the Central Yukon RMPs, after the House passed all three resolutions earlier in September. The Miles City Field Office RMP, which was effective as of November 20, 2024, designated zero acres of BLM-administered coal lands available for leasing consideration and placed 1,745,040 acres of land unavailable for further coal leasing. Further, the North Dakota RMP, effective as of January 8, 2025, which was designated to replace the 1988 RMP, covered over 58,000 acres of BLM surface lands, and 4.1 million acres of BLM mineral estate.
Pipelines: ARM Announced Final Investment Decision on Southeastern Texas Pipeline
On October 9, 2025, ARM Energy Holdings (ARM) and Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) announced a final investment decision (FID) on the Mustang Exchange Pipeline. The Mustang Exchange Pipeline will go from central Texas to Southeastern Texas, at Port Arthur, covering 236 miles. The pipeline will be built in three sections, the first being from Tres Palacios Storage to the Katy Hub, the second from the Katy Hub to Port Arthur, and the final around Port Arthur. Upon completion, the pipeline will see a capacity of 2.5 billion cubic feet per day, cost 2.3 billion dollars, and is expected to be completed in late 2028 or early 2029.
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CENTER PROGRAMS & RESOURCES
Mid-Atlantic Ag and Resource Law Conference with WVU Extension
On Tuesday and Wednesday October 28–29, 2025, West Virginia University (WVU) and WVU Extension will host the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Agricultural and Resource Law Conference, co-sponsored by Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law.
- October 28th from 3:00 PM- 8:00 PM. More Information and Registration Here
Understanding Immigration Compliance: I-9s, Audits and ICE Raids
On Friday, October 31, 2025, from 12 noon–1:00 ET, 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, a course designed to develop subject matter literacy and competence on fundamental issues of agricultural law for attorneys and business advisors who work with or represent agricultural or rural clients but may not necessarily specialize in agricultural law:
“Understanding Immigration Compliance: I-9s, Audits and ICE Raids”
Guest Presenter: Jacob Monty, Esq., Monty & Ramirez LLP
- October 31st from 12 noon-1:00 PM. More Information and Registration Here
On November 20th at 12pm noon, Center Staff Attorney Jackie Schweichler will present a session on legal considerations for agritourism businesses. This presentation will be part of the session, “Cultivating Opportunity: A Practical Guide to Starting and Managing Agritourism Operations.”
- November 20th from 12 noon-1:00 PM. More Information and Registration Here
Follow us on Twitter @AgShaleLaw to see the latest with our #ShaleLaw HotLinks
Connect with us on Facebook.
Penn State Farmland Energy Legal Podcast: Listen to the latest episode here.
Oil & Gas Law & Policy Resources:
Diaz, Corporate Climate Disclosures in the US and EU: An Expanding Regulatory Landscape Amidst Resistance (October 20, 2025)
Diaz, Scope 3 Emissions in Corporate Reporting: Calculating Climate Risk in Global Value Chains (October 23, 2025)
Wieb, From EU Framework to National Action: How Germany Regulates Data Center Energy Use (October 24, 2025)
Kapinos, Mallen, and Treanor, From Conditional to Final: DOE Clears CP2 LNG for Non-FTA Exports (October 24, 2025)
Akin Gump, Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Promote American Mineral Security (October 24, 2025)
FEDERAL ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PRESS RELEASES
Energy Department Issues Solicitation to Purchase Crude Oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (October 21, 2025)
U.S. Energy Secretary and Qatari Energy Minister Send Letter to EU Regarding Proposed Corporate Climate Regulations (October 22, 2025)
Energy Department Approves Final Export Authorization for Venture Global CP2 LNG (October 22, 2025)
Secretary Wright Acts to Unleash American Industry and Innovation with Newly Proposed Rules (October 24, 2025)
Energy Secretary Strengthens Mid-Atlantic Grid Reliability Heading into Winter Months (October 24, 2025)
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PRESS RELEASES
EPA Seeks Public Comment on Draft Carbon Storage Permit for Company in Randolph County, Indiana (October 20, 2025)
EPA Orders Cabras Marine to End Sloppy Hazardous Waste Management, Preventing Spills into Apra Harbor (October 21, 2025)
EPA Releases New Resources to Help Protect Water Systems, Strengthen Cyber Resilience (October 23, 2025)
FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Federal Register October 20–27, 2025)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
90 FR 48397 Rule: “Implementation of the Executive Order Entitled “Zero-Based Budgeting To Unleash American Energy”” (October 21, 2025)
Land Management Bureau
90 FR 48446 Notice: “Call for Nominations and Comments for the 2025 National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Oil and Gas Lease Sale” (October 22, 2025)
U.S. HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE
Res. 823 – Supporting the designation of the week beginning on October 19, 2025, as “Coal Week” (Introduced October 21st)
H.R.5803 – REACT Act (Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce October 21, 2025)
H.R.5814 – To amend the Natural Gas Act to provide for expanded natural gas exports, and for other purposes. (Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce October 24, 2025)
U.S. SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
S.2967 – Border Lands Conservation Act (Star Print ordered on the bill October 22, 2025)
S.3034 – A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to review regulations that may affect the reliable operation of the bulk-power system, and for other purposes. (Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, October 23, 2025)
S.3035 – A bill to amend the Natural Gas Act to provide for expanded natural gas exports, and for other purposes. (Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, October 23, 2025)
S.3045 – A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to take certain actions with respect to certain qualified coal applications, and for other purposes. (Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, October 23, 2025)
STATE ACTIONS—EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE
PENNSYLVANIA DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PRESS RELEASES
PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (Pa. Bulletin Vol. 55, No. 43 – October 25, 2025)
Department of Environmental Protection
55 Pa.B. 7473: Reissuance of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Stormwater Associated with Mining Activities
55 Pa.B. 7475: State Implementation Plan Revision; Concerning Reasonable Available Control Technology Determinations for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards; Extension of Public Comment Period
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
55 Pa.B. 7480: Natural Gas Service
Written by:
Benjamin Aronovitch, Research Assistant
Caden Dean-Sauter, Research Assistant
Jackie Schweichler, Staff Attorney
