Methane Emissions
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of December 15, 2025
Methane Emissions: EPA Extends Deadline for Compliance with Methane Emissions Limits⚡
On December 3, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule, titled “Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review: Extension of Deadlines in Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources,” which extends the time in which oil and gas facilities have to comply with methane emission standards (40 CFR part 60, subparts OOOb, OOOc). In March of 2024, the previous administration set new source performance standards for oil and gas sources facilities. The new 2025 rule extends the compliance […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of September 29, 2025
Infrastructure: PA PUC Issues Order to Speed Up Identification of Old, At-Risk Pipes ⚡
On September 11, 2025, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PA PUC) issued a final order aimed at speeding up the identification of older, “at-risk” plastic pipes used to transport natural gas. Starting in 1998, and then again in 1999, 2002 and 2007, the National Transportation Safety Board issued reports that plastic pipes installed between the 1960s and the 1980s were at a higher risk of cracking and leaking, and as such should be replaced. In 2024, the PA PUC issued a tentative order accelerating the process […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of August 11, 2025
Community Impacts: PA Attorney General Files Charges Against Equitrans for Well Leak ⚡
On July 24, 2025, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday released a statement indicating that criminal charges have been filed against the energy company Equitrans, LP, concerning a natural gas leak that occurred in 2022. The charges, which include 14 counts of unlawful conduct and pollution, stem from an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General. It was found that a gas well at the Rager Mountain Storage Field in Cambria County leaked for 14 days due to what the 51st Statewide Investigating Grand Jury cited […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of March 31, 2025
Water Quality: Bucks County Attorney General’s Office Announces Investigation into Sunoco Pipeline Leak ⚡
On March 11, 2025, the Bucks County Assistant District Attorney Edward Louka announced during a town meeting that the Attorney General’s office would be investigating leaks from a Sunoco pipeline in Upper Makefield, PA. The pipeline leak was confirmed by a Pennsylvania announcement in January 2025, which stated that the pipeline leak had contaminated six wells within Upper Makefield. Since the leak was announced, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) had been involved with water testing within the wells for contamination, with potential contaminants […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of March 24, 2025
Methane Emissions: Congress Votes to Eliminate November 2024 Waste Emissions Rule ⚡
On March 4, 2025, Congress presented to the President H.J.Res.35, which is a joint resolution which would eliminate the rule, “Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Procedures for Facilitating Compliance, Including Netting and Exemptions” (89 FR 91094). This final rule, which was promulgated through the Inflation Reduction Act, required the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to “impose and collect an annual charge on methane emissions that exceed waste emissions thresholds specified by Congress.” The House and Senate passed H.J.Res.35 on February 26, 2025, and […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of March 17, 2025
National Energy Policy: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Announces the Unfreezing of Federal Funds Allocated to Pennsylvania ⚡
On February 24, 2025, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania announced that federal funding that was allocated to Pennsylvania, which had previously been frozen, is now unfrozen. On January 27, 2025, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget issued the “Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies,” which required federal agencies to “identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President’s policies and requirements.” The memorandum required federal agencies to place a pause on activities and programs that […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of January 6, 2025
LNG Exports: DOE Releases Updated Study on LNG Exports and Invites Public Comment ⚡
On December 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the 2024 LNG Export Study: Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of U.S. LNG Exports. The long-awaited study examines the potential effects on domestic households, consumers, economy, and energy security by U.S. LNG exports, as well as the exports’ effects on communities near LNG export terminals and production facilities. According to the Secretary of Energy’s statement, the study will help inform the DOE’s public interest analysis when making LNG export decisions where the U.S. has […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of December 2, 2024
Methane Emissions: EPA Finalizes Methane Emissions Fee for Oil and Gas Sector ⚡
On November 12, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule implementing a Waste Emissions Charge (WEC) on certain oil and gas operations. The WEC will apply to high-emitting oil and gas facilities, defined as those reporting to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program annual emissions exceeding 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. This rule was issued under a Congressional directive of the Inflation Reduction Act requiring the EPA to implement and collect the fees, as well as provide for appropriate exemptions where emissions […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of June 17, 2024
Methane Emissions: Arkansas and Louisiana Receive $30 Million to Plug and Reclaim Legacy Oil and Gas Wells ⚡
On May 30, 2024, the United States Department of the Interior issued a press announcing Arkansas and Louisiana would receive a combined $30.59 million to be used to plug and reclaim orphaned oil and gas wells. The funds come from the $660 set aside by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Louisiana is receiving most of the funds, $25 million, while Arkansas receives the remaining $5.59 million. With the funds, the states will measure methane emissions from orphaned oil and gas […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of April 22, 2024
Methane Emissions: DOT and PHMSA Announce Pipeline Repair Funding to Reduce Emissions ⚡
On April 3, 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced that $392 million of funding will be dedicated to modernizing pipeline systems and infrastructure with the stated goal of preventing methane pollution emissions. The funding will be divided amongst 130 projects proposed by municipality and community owned utility companies across 26 states. The selected projects involve repairing or replacing almost 500 miles of pipelines, for what PHMSA has said will result in a reduction of methane pollution […]
