Hydraulic Fracturing Bans
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of March 25, 2024
GHG Emissions: Texas Brings Suit in D.C. Circuit Court over EPA Methane Rule ⚡
On Friday, March 8, 2024, the State of Texas petitioned the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to review a final rule officially published to the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the same day. The EPA first announced the final rule on December 2, 2023, which has a stated primary objective of “sharply reduc[ing] emissions of methane and other harmful air pollution from oil and natural gas operations.” The rule aims to reduce air pollution emissions from both new and existing […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of February 26, 2024
Methane Emissions: DOE and EPA Announce Intent to Fund Methane Mitigation ⚡
On February 9, 2024, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced their intent to make Inflation Reduction Act funds available for mitigating methane, a “super pollutant.” The Methane Emissions Reduction Program will seek to target the oil and natural gas supply chain by funding projects to reduce emissions at existing wells and assets, while also developing new mitigation technologies and measuring systems to aid in identifying and fixing methane leaks. These projects will include collaboration between the oil and gas sector and DOE […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of March 6, 2023
GHG Emissions: DOE Announces $2.52 Billion in Funding for Carbon Capture Projects ⚡
On February 23, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that two programs created to support the development of carbon capture technology will receive $2.52 billion in funding. The carbon management technologies in development include systems capture, transport, and storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Both programs will focus on these technologies in order to make coal and natural gas use more effective. The first program, called “Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilots,” will receive $820 million in funding for testing up to ten large-scale projects aimed at […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of January 30, 2023
Hydraulic Fracturing Bans: Fossil Fuel Companies Petition Supreme Court to Reverse Ban on All New Permits for Oil Production on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf ⚡
On January 25, 2023, the American Petroleum Institute, Exxon Mobile, and DCOR petitioned the Supreme Court to review the decision by the Ninth District Court of Appeals to uphold an injunction against all new well-stimulation treatment permits in the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf. In their petition, the three companies first argue that the Ninth Circuit erred in upholding the Department of the Interior’s finding that “hypothetical future approvals of permits to conduct well-stimulation treatments” […]
Shale Law Weekly Review – Week of July 19, 2021
State Regulation: Florida Law Prohibits Local Governments from Restricting Fossil Fuels ⚡
On July 1, 2021, Florida’s new law banning the restriction of fuel sources became effective in the state. The law, “Preemption Over Utility Service Restrictions,” prohibits local governments and municipalities from passing ordinances, rules, or any other restrictions on fuel sources. The law states that there can be no restrictions for delivery or use of fuel supplied by natural gas companies, liquefied petroleum gas dealers, and others. The bill was signed by the Governor on June 21, 2021.
Hydraulic Fracturing Bans: Pennsylvania Senators will Appeal Case Against DRBC’s […]
Shale Law Weekly Review – Week of March 22, 2021
Pipelines: Court of Appeals Vacates Denial of Clean Water Act Certification for Mountain Valley Pipeline’s Southgate Project ⚡
On March 11, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated North Carolina’s denial of Section 401 Clean Water Act Certification for Mountain Valley Pipeline’s (MVP) Southgate Project. (Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC v. North Carolina Dep’t of Envtl. Quality, No. 20-1971). North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) denied MVP certification due to the uncertainty of MVP’s main pipeline project status. In its decision, DEQ cited the suspended and pending federal permits that MVP needs in order to complete […]
Shale Law Weekly Review – Week of March 1, 2021
Pipelines: Court of Appeals Denies Emergency Stay of Mountain Valley Pipeline Construction ⚡
On February 19, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied an Emergency Motion for Stay Pending Appeal regarding Mountain Valley Pipeline construction in Appalachian Voices v. FERC, Docket nos. 20-1512 and 21-1040. Several environmental groups filed an Emergency Motion for Stay after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued orders allowing the pipeline project to continue construction. The Motion requested that that the court stay new pipeline construction to prevent environmental damage along the proposed pipeline route. The court denied […]
UPDATE: Overview of Recent Oil and Gas Regulatory and Legal Developments in Colorado
Written by Chloe Marie – Research Specialist
This article will provide an updated and brief overview of some recent legal changes and developments in the state of Colorado.
Adams County, Colorado approves changes to the county’s oil and gas regulations
On September 3, 2019, the Adams County Board of Commissioners amended the county’s oil and gas regulations as a result of the enactment of Senate Bill 19-181. Board Chair Steve O’Dorisio declared in a statement that “our staff has been hard at work creating a set of regulations that is fair to the industry but also provides […]
Oregon and Washington Enact Hydraulic Fracturing Bans
Written by Chloe Marie – Research Specialist
This article will provide an overview of recent legislative developments that have taken place in the states of Oregon and Washington to prohibit the use of hydraulic fracturing for any future oil and gas development projects. According to the most recent production report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Oregon had 659 MMCF of natural gas production in 2017. With this production level, Oregon ranked 28th out of 34 natural gas-producing states. According to the EIA report, Washington did not have any natural gas production in 2017. Additionally, neither […]
