Aug 82017
Sidley Shale and Hydraulic Fracturing Report
Vol. 6, No. 30
Topics discussed in this week’s Report include:
- Industry seeks rehearing en banc of decision vacating 90-day stay of methane rule.
- Senate confirmations will restore FERC quorum.
- Assistant Attorney General for Environment and Natural Resources Division advances.
- Landowners challenge FERC power of eminent domain.
- UK authorizes first commercial shale gas well.
Aug 12017
Sidley Shale and Hydraulic Fracturing Report
Vol. 6, No. 29
Topics discussed in this week’s Report include:
- BLM issues proposed rule that would rescind Obama-era regulation governing hydraulic fracturing on public lands.
- West Virginia and Pennsylvania separately delay construction of two pipelines.
- Massachusetts will study proposed Enbridge natural gas compressor station.
- EIA predicts that U.S. crude oil production will set new record in 2018.
Jul 252017
Sidley Shale and Hydraulic Fracturing Report
Vol. 6, No. 28
Topics discussed in this week’s Report include:
- District court allows offshore hydraulic fracturing challenge to proceed.
- Atlantic Pipeline project gets regulatory approval but faces additional hurdles.
- Evaluation of oil and gas flow lines is underway in Colorado.
- Nuns attempt to block Atlantic Sunrise pipeline with chapel construction.
Jul 182017
Sidley Shale and Hydraulic Fracturing Report
Vol. 6, No. 27
Topics discussed in this week’s Report include:
- Court vacated EPA stay of methane rule.
- Suits challenged stay of BLM waste prevention rule compliance dates.
- Department of Interior must issue oil and gas permits within 30 days.
- Courts stayed sage grouse litigation pending Interior action.
- D.C. Circuit ordered Nashville to move on pipeline application.
- Environmental groups sued to block Wyoming oil and gas leases.
- Environmental groups protested Utah lease sale, citing sage grouse.
- Earthworks taking optical gas imaging cameras on tour.
- Ohio EPA took actions against Rover Pipeline, LLC over alleged environmental violations.
Jun 282017
Sidley Shale and Hydraulic Fracturing Report
Vol. 6, No. 26
Topics discussed in this week’s Report include:
- EPA Inspector General to review methane emission estimates from the oil and gas sector.
- Texas: Researchers concluded road damage among most significant effects of hydraulic fracturing.
- Pennsylvania: Supreme Court limited state spending of oil and gas proceeds.
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court affirmed decision requiring evaluation of environmental effects of proposed oil and gas wells.
Jun 212017
Sidley Shale and Hydraulic Fracturing Report
Vol. 6, No. 25
Topics discussed in this week’s Report include:
- EPA proposed to extend and BLM postponed compliance deadlines for rules governing methane emissions from oil and gas operations.
- District court ordered further environmental review of Dakota Access pipeline.
Jun 142017
Sidley Shale and Hydraulic Fracturing Report
Vol. 6, No. 24
Topics discussed in this week’s Report include:
- BLM expected to review backlog of flaring requests from Bakken shale wells.
- Virginia Democrats introduced Senate bill that would require FERC to expand public participation process.
- Department of Energy seeks comment on water policy database.
Jun 62017
Sidley Shale and Hydraulic Fracturing Report
Vol. 6, No. 23
Topics discussed in this week’s Report include:
- Court dismissed challenge to drilling in Arkansas National Forest, finding group lacked standing.
- Pennsylvania board rejected state agency’s novel civil penalty theory.
- EPA finalized stay of oil and gas methane rule, and environmental groups vow to challenge EPA’s actions.
May 302017
Sidley Shale and Hydraulic Fracturing Report
Vol. 6, No. 22
Topics discussed in this week’s Report include:
- States urged PHMSA to establish vapor pressure limits for shipping oil by rail.
- Arkansas: Eighth Circuit reversed district court, reviving challenge to contamination from waste water disposal well.
- New York pursued new limits on methane emissions.
- Canada announced plans to regulate methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.
May 242017
Sidley Shale and Hydraulic Fracturing Report
Vol. 6, No. 21
Topics discussed in this week’s Report include:
- District of Columbia Circuit granted the EPA’s request to hold in abeyance litigation over final rule governing methane emissions from new and modified oil and gas sources.
- Property owners sued FERC and Nexus Gas Transmission to stop Ohio natural gas pipeline.
- Colorado: Agency appealed intermediate court ruling that state Oil and Gas Conservation Act requires oil and gas development to proceed in a manner protective of the environment.
- New York: New York State unveiled plan to reduce methane emissions.