State Regulation
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 22, 2025
State Regulation: Five-Year Delay Announced by CEC on Maximum Gross Gasoline Refining Margin Implementation⚡
On August 29, 2025, the California Energy Commission (CEC) reviewed the proposed implementation of a maximum gross gasoline refining margin (GGRM) and associated penalties (Docket No. 23-OIIP-01). CEC defines “gross gasoline refining margin” as “the difference, expressed in dollars per barrel, between the volume-weighted average price of wholesale gasoline sold by a refiner in the state and the average price of crude oil received by the refinery.” These actions stem from Senate Bill X1-2 and Assembly Bill X2-1, which expanded the CEC’s authority […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of September 8, 2025
State Regulation: PA DEP Accepting Bids to Plug Orphaned Wells ⚡
On Saturday, August 23, 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection published a notice about plugging abandoned wells. Currently, there are seven orphaned wells identified, located in Smith, North Strabane, North Franklin and Canton Townships and Washington County. The wells are anticipated to be between 1,000 and 3,400 feet in depth, and the winner of the bid will be responsible for cleaning and plugging the wells. Bidding will open on September 18, 20205.
Wastewater Disposal: Notices of Violation Issued for Failure to Report Waste Disposal from Oil Wells in Pennsylvania
On August […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of July 14, 2025
National Energy Policy: Department of Energy Revises NEPA Regulations ⚡
On June 30, 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) published an interim rule removing its current National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations and issuing new guidelines. NEPA requires federal agencies to prepare environmental impact statements before approving major projects. This rule would remove NEPA obligations for natural gas imports or exports “to countries with which the United States has a free trade agreement.” Further, NEPA will also only apply to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) final actions, not any proposed rules. This rule comes after the Supreme Court’s […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of April 7, 2025
Environmental Impact Studies: Penn State Research Shows Environmental Benefits from Reusing Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells ⚡
On February 28, 2025, a research article was published in the Journal of Energy Storage titled Underground energy storage using abandoned oil & gas wells assisted by geothermal. The authors explore the potential for abandoned oil and gas wells (AOGWs) to be reused as “containment cells for pressurized air,” a process that may reduce greenhouse gas emissions from AOGWs. Finding that reusing the AOGWs would be beneficial by providing “stability and natural insulation,” the article proposes that AOGWs be used as “inexpensive [compressed […]
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 March 10, 2025
Pipelines: Michigan Court of Appeals Upholds Permit for Enbridge’s Relocation of Line 5 ⚡
On February 19, 2025, the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld the conditional approval for Enbridge Energy Limited Partnership (“Enbridge”) to relocate its “Line 5” pipeline to a tunnel underneath the Straits of Mackinac in a consolidated appeal opinion. In Re Application Of Enbridge Energy To Replace & Relocate Line 5, Docket No. 369156 (Mich. Ct. App. Dec 21, 2023). Numerous groups, including Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and Michigan Environmental Council, appealed the Line 5 conditional approval in separate dockets. The groups/appellants argued […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of February 10, 2025
Pipelines: FERC Issues Order on Remand Reinstating Certificate and Abandonment Authorization to Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company ⚡
On January 24, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order reinstating the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company’s (Transco) “certificate and abandonment authority . . . for the REAE Project.” The order, which detailed that the issue was on remand from the D.C. Circuit Court, found that the Regional Energy Access Expansion Project (REAE Project) was needed and “that the benefits outweigh the adverse impacts.” In its reasoning, FERC determined that there was a need for the REAE Project due […]
Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of January 27, 2025
Climate Change: New York Court Dismisses Climate Change Suit Against ExxonMobil, Shell, and BP ⚡
On January 15, 2025, the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the County of New York dismissed a suit brought by the City of New York (“the City”) against ExxonMobil, Shell, and BP. The City of New York v. ExxonMobil Corp., et al, Doc. No. 232 (Supreme Court of New York, County of New York, Commercial Division Part 45, 2025). The City brought two causes of action against the three defendant companies: “(1) violation of the [City’s Consumer Protection Law (CPL)] by […]
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 […]
