COVID-19
Shale Law Weekly Review – April 27, 2020
Production and Operation: Oklahoma Corporation Commission Approves Emergency Order Allowing Oil Producers to Shut-in Wells in Response to COVID-19
On April 22, 2020, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission announced approval of an emergency order allowing oil producers to shut-in or reduce production of oil wells for the prevention of waste. The order was approved in response to a request from LPD Energy Company LLC seeking to prevent waste by stopping or reducing oil production without impacting the company’s lease agreement. The request stated that due to a decline in demand and oversupply from COVID-19 circumstances, LPD is losing $200,000 per month by producing “economically […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—April 23, 2020
COVID-19: USDA Announces Coronavirus Food Assistance Program:
On April 17, 2020, USDA announced the administrative creation of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, utilizing $19 billion of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) and Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) authority and appropriations. The program’s primary initiatives are titled (1) Direct Support to Farmers and Ranchers; and (2) USDA Purchase and Distribution. The Direct Support program will use $16 million for producer compensation for 2020 marketing year actual losses resulting from price, supply chain, demand, and over-supply impacts of COVID-19. The USDA Purchase program will use $3 billion to purchase three categories of food from producers (fresh produce, dairy, […]
Agricultural Law Weekly Review—April 2, 2020
COVID-19 Pandemic: Congress Enacts Three Laws Providing Pandemic Assistance
Over the last few weeks, the U.S. Congress has enacted three new federal laws providing COVID-19 pandemic assistance benefits and programs to individuals and businesses, including agricultural stakeholders.
On March 5 and 6, 2020, respectively, Congress enacted and the President signed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020, H.R. 6074 (P.L. 116-123), providing $8.3 billion in emergency funding, which includes appropriations for several Small Business Administration (SBA) financial assistance and loan programs for which agricultural producers are eligible.
On March 18, 2020, Congress enacted and the President signed the Families First […]
Shale Law Weekly Review – April 7, 2020
National Energy Policy/Public Health: EPA Announces Temporary Policy Change for Environmental Compliance Obligations Amid Covid-19
On March 26, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a temporary policy change for environmental compliance obligations amid the Covid-19 outbreak. EPA recognized that many firms under environmental compliance obligations may have had changing circumstances due to Covid-19 social distancing protocols that restrict the ability to continue with normal business operations. The policy’s scope is intended to address staff shortages that may affect laboratory services, reporting and emissions requirements, or management of hazardous waste and drinking water. EPA outlined enforcement discretion for civil violations in […]
Shale Law Weekly Review – March 9, 2020
Production and Operation: Pennsylvania Quarterly Natural Gas Report Shows Continued Increase in Production
On February 26, 2020, the Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office released the Natural Gas Production Report for the fourth quarter of 2019. While the report shows an overall increase in production from the fourth quarter in 2018, the 7.6 percent increase equates to the “lowest growth rate in over two years.” More specific data shows that all of the growth comes from wells that were spudded in 2018. The number of horizontal wells increased by 8.3 percent in the last year, and horizontal production increased by 26.8 percent in […]
