Municipal Regulation
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of January 16, 2023
GHG Emissions: Council on Environmental Quality Issues New Guidance for Agency Analysis of Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change Impacts ⚡
On January 6, 2023, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued new guidance for agencies in their analysis of how proposed actions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) will impact the climate and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. CEQ states that the purpose of the guidance is to help federal agencies better evaluate the impact of their agency actions on climate change. The new guidance asks agencies to consider both “(1) the potential effects of a proposed action on […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of November 21, 2022
Municipal Regulation: Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Developer Sues Louisiana County Over Moratorium on Seismic Surveying and Well Construction ⚡
On November 18, 2022, Air Products Blue Energy filed a lawsuit against Livingston Parish’s government and Council, which had passed an ordinance prohibiting seismic surveying, construction, and drilling of carbon storage wells for one year. The complaint claims the ordinance is invalid under Louisiana state law and seeks injunctive and declaratory relief against the ordinance.
Methane Emissions: EPA Proposes New Emissions Reductions Standards for Oil and Natural Gas
On November 11, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it had issued a
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of August 8, 2022
Oil and Gas Regulations: PA Governor Requests DEP Review of Well Plugging Law ⚡
On July 30, 2022, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued a Notice of Bill Enacted without Signature in regard to the recently passed well plugging law, HB 2644. Gov. Wolf directed the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to evaluate the oil and gas industry’s record of compliance, to evaluate Pennsylvania’s current use of existing authority regarding oil and gas well bonds and abandoned wells, and to make recommendations for regulatory reform. Gov. Wolf in the notice cited the DEP’s past identification of “more than 17,000 […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of July 18, 2022
Hydraulic Fracturing : Conservation Group Files Lawsuit Against EPA Over Colorado Permit Requirements ⚡
On July 12, 2022, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, asking the court to review the EPA’s final action approving the state of Colorado’s permit program requirements. Ctr. for Biological Diversity v. EPA. The final action was published in the Federal Register May 13, 2022. The Center said in a statement that the lawsuit was intended to force the EPA to close a “loophole that allows unlimited air pollution” from drilling and hydraulic […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of July 11, 2022
Oil and Gas Regulation: PA General Assembly Passes Well Plugging Bill ⚡
On July 7, 2022, the Pennsylvania Senate and House both passed HB 2644. The bill would establish and allocate funds to the Orphan Well Plugging Grant Program (Program). Funding through this program would be used to receive and approve applications, provide civil liability for well pluggers, and issue grants to plug oil and gas wells. The bill would also set criteria for which wells qualify for the program and who qualifies as a well plugger. The bill was presented to Governor Wolf on July 8, 2022.
Municipal Regulation: PA […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of June 6, 2022
Municipal Regulation: PA Senate Bill on Utility Regulation Proceeds to House for Consideration ⚡
On May 25, 2022, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Local Government Committee approved SB 275 for full consideration by the House. SB 275 would amend Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and prohibit municipalities from adopting restrictions against or discriminating against utility service providers on the basis of the type of energy provided. SB 275 would also prohibit municipalities from adopting policies which interfere with an individual’s ability to use the services of a utility service provider that is “capable and authorized.” Sen. Gene Yaw, […]
Shale Law Weekly Review – Week of March 15, 2021
Landowner Royalties: Pennsylvania Attorney General Settles Lawsuit Against Chesapeake Energy ⚡
On March 8, 2021, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Josh Shapiro, announced a settlement with Chesapeake Energy to settle litigation related to Chesapeake’s business practices with landowners. The Attorney General initially filed a complaint against Chesapeake alleging that Chesapeake engaged in deceptive and unfair acts that induced landowners to sign leases with them. (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Chesapeake Energy Corp., No. 2015IR0069). The settlement requires Chesapeake to pay landowners a total of $5.3 million in restitution and will allow landowners to change the terms of their existing leases with regard […]
Shale Law Weekly Review – Week of February 8, 2021
Pipelines: Supreme Court Agrees to Hear PennEast Pipeline Eminent Domain Case
On February 3, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court granted PennEast Pipeline’s Petition for Writ of Certiorari. PennEast filed the Petition after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that PennEast was barred from bringing a lawsuit against New Jersey due to the state’s Eleventh Amendment immunity. (PennEast Pipeline Co., LLC v. New Jersey, Nos. 19-1191 thru 19-1232). PennEast was approved to begin construction on its pipeline when it sued New Jersey under the Natural Gas Act to gain access to state properties using eminent […]
Shale Law Weekly Review – November 20, 2020
Pipelines: Court of Appeals Issues Stay for Mountain Valley Pipeline NWP12 Permits
On November 9, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued an order granting petitioners’ motions to stay water crossing permits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project. The administrative stay will temporarily block the Nationwide Permit 12 which was reissued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on September 25, 2020. The court did not explain its reasoning for granting the stay, but it will issue an opinion on this matter at a later time. Audio for the oral argument on […]
Shale Law Weekly Review – August 7, 2020
National Energy Policy: EPA Issues Final Rule Revising Permit Appeal Process
On July 22, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule that revises the agency’s permit appeal process. (40 CFR Parts 1, 49, 71, and 124). The final rule affects permits issued by the EPA under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act. (rule summary). The final rule amends the Environmental Appeals Board’s (EAB) scope for review of decisions limiting review to “findings of fact and conclusions of law that are clearly erroneous.” The rule also establishes time […]
