pipelines
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 July 4, 2022
Oil and Gas Leasing: Lawsuit Filed Challenging Federal Leasing Sales ⚡
On June 28, 2022, several conservation groups filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s approval of the sale of 173 oil and gas leasing parcels. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District Court of Columbia, includes groups such as the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, and Dakota Resource Council. The conservation groups’ argument is that the approvals violated the National Environmental Policy Act and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act by failing to […]
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 May 30, 2022
Pipelines: PHMSA Announces New Rulemaking for Carbon Dioxide Pipelines ⚡
On May 26, 2022, the U.S. Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced a new rulemaking to update standards for carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines. Additional new measures include an updated nationwide advisory bulletin and research solicitations to strengthen current pipeline safety. According to PHMSA, this rulemaking, and other enforcement actions, were initiated in response to the 2020 Satartia, Mississippi CO2 pipeline failure.
Climate Change: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Affirms Denial of Exxon Mobil’s Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit
On May 24, 2022, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court entered an order […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of November 29, 2021
Public Lands: Interior Review of Oil and Gas Leasing Programs Finds Failures to Provide a Fair Return
On November 26, 2021, the Department of the Interior (DOI) released a report critiquing the functioning of the federal government’s onshore and offshore leasing programs. The report specifically condemned the leasing programs’ financial operations, suggesting that the royalty rates for leasing on public lands be increased, and that the bonding levels should likewise be increased. The report was requested by President Biden as part of Executive Order 14008 and it was based on studies previously conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of November 22, 2021
Pipelines: Bridger Pipeline, LLC Agrees to Pay $2 million to Montana in Natural Resources Damages Caused by Pipeline Spill Incident
On November 17, 2021, the United States and the state of Montana filed a lawsuit against Bridger Pipeline, LLC, the owner of the Poplar Pipeline, seeking recovery of damages for injury caused by a pipeline break and spill into the Yellowstone River in January 2015. USA, et al. v. Bridger Pipeline, LLC, USDC Montana, No. 1:21-cv-122. The same day, the parties agreed to settle the dispute through the payment of $2 million to Montana. A press release from […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of November 1, 2021
Pipelines: Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Orders the Public Release of Emails Between Middletown Township and Energy Transfer Concerning the Mariner East 2 Pipeline ⚡
On October 15, 2021, the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas ordered Middletown Township to give residents of the Glen Riddle Station Apartments, located along the Mariner East 2 Pipeline, access to their email communications with Energy Transfer, which access was initially refused by the company. The Court of Common Pleas held that these communications are public. Energy Transfer, the owner of the Mariner East 2 Pipeline, was recently charged for environmental crimes by […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of October 25, 2021
Pipelines: North Dakota District Court Rules in Favor of Energy Company in Dispute Over Royalty Payments and Post-Production Costs ⚡
On October 13, 2021, the Northwest Judicial District Court, McKenzie County, issued a ruling in favor of Newfield Exploration Company in a case where the subject matter of the dispute is whether the energy company could deduct post-production costs from royalty payments owed to the state of North Dakota. Newfield Exploration Co., et al. v. State of North Dakota, et al., No. 27-2018-CV-00143. The district court initially sided with Newfield, determining that the lease “allows the reduction of the royalty […]
Shale Law Weekly Review – Week of October 18, 2021
Pipelines: The United States and State of Illinois Sue Pipeline Owner and Operator for Damages Caused by Oil Pollution ⚡
On October 13, 2021, the United States and the state of Illinois filed a complaint before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The plaintiffs ask for damages from both the owner, West Shore Pipe Line Co., and the operator, Buckeye Pipe Line Co. L.P., of Line 257, a 3.5-mile pipeline designed to transport crude oil in Illinois. Plaintiffs alleged that they suffered an “injury to, destruction of, loss of, or loss of use of, natural resources, […]
Shale Law Weekly Review – Week of October 11, 2021
GHG Emissions: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Issues Final Rule to Reduce Hydrofluorocarbons Use and Production ⚡
On October 5, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register a Final Rule, titled “Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Establishing the Allowance Allocation and Trading Program Under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act.” The purpose of this rule is to decrease the U.S. production and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HCFs) by 85% until 2036, in accordance with the 2020 American Innovation and Manufacturing Act. Hydrofluorocarbons are potent greenhouse gases that are commonly used as refrigerants in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. In a […]
