Shale Law in the Spotlight
Overview of Recent Local Oil and Gas Moratoria in Colorado Following the Passage of Senate Bill 19-181
On April 16, 2019, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill No. 19-181 into law, increasing the focus on environmental and public health concerns in the oil and gas governance process in Colorado. Among other things, the legislation mandates that the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission develop and promulgate a number of rules to ensure that development takes place in a manner that is consistent with the Commission’s primary interest to protect people, wildlife, and the environment from the impacts of oil and gas activities. In addition, the legislation increases the authority of local governments […]
Shale Law in the Spotlight – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Proposes Rulemaking Addressing Pipeline Safety Standards
On June 13, 2019, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (Commission) published a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comment on possible amendments or enhancements to regulations governing pipeline safety standards. On that same day, the Commission also published a notice of proposed rulemaking addressing financial reporting for public utilities. The Commission is looking for public input into ways of better regulating the design, construction, operations, and maintenance of public utilities, such as transportation pipelines in intrastate commerce. Ultimately, the Commission is considering whether the hazardous liquid public utility safety standards laid down in Chapter 59 of the Pennsylvania […]
