Sidley Energy Blog

Topics discussed this week include:

Waters of the United States challenges proceed in district courts.
Court dismisses challenge to “two-for-one” executive order.
BLM proposes significant revisions to gas venting and flaring rule.
Court preliminarily enjoins BLM methane suspension rule.
EPA seeks comment on Clean Water Act discharges via groundwater.
Environmental groups challenge offshore general discharge permits.
EPA looks to settle renewable fuel standards suit.
Environmental groups challenge Louisiana regional haze plan.
Court ruled that EPA unlawfully extended deadline for formaldehyde rule.
White House legislative outline attempts to speed infrastructure construction.
Supreme Court denies certiorari for five environmental cases.
Colorado issues new rules for gathering lines.

General

Sidley Environmental Trends

Feb 12 2018

Environmental Trends Contributors

Topics discussed this week include:

DOJ and EPA issue guidance documents with implications for environmental enforcement.
EPA ends “once-in always-in” MACT policy.
EPA delays applicability of WOTUS rule, prompting lawsuits.
EPA issues proposed ROD Amendment for $236 million cleanup of West Lake Landfill Superfund Site.
EPA releases FY 2017 enforcement results.
Ninth Circuit holds that discharges through groundwater to waters of the United States are regulated under the Clean Water Act.
White House infrastructure plan proposes major changes to NEPA permitting process for projects.

General

Energy Enforcement Update

Feb 07 2018

Kenneth Irvin, Terence Healey, Christopher Polito and Sharon Rose

This week’s enforcement update covers:

CFTC orders Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. to pay $70 million penalty for attempted manipulation of ISDAFIX benchmark;
CFTC and DOJ announce spoofing charges against banks and individuals;
FERC files amended complaint in case against Powhatan and Chen;
Judge grants joint motion on summary judgment procedure in FERC case against Silkman/CES;
FERC OE files answer to BP motion seeking dismissal based on statute of limitations;
FERC Chairman testifies on grid performance during recent weather events; and
FERC Commissioner Rich Glick stresses importance of FERC enforcement regime.

CFTC, DOJ, FERC, Spoofing

Sidley Environmental Trends

Jan 30 2018

Environmental Trends Contributors

Topics discussed this week include:

U.S. Supreme Court sends “waters of the U.S.” case back to the federal district courts.
“Critical habitat” dusky gopher frog case to be heard by U.S. Supreme Court.
Florida coastal waters will continue to be analyzed for oil and gas leases.
EPA announces it will revisit 2017 Regional Haze Rule.

General

Energy Enforcement Update

Jan 18 2018

Kenneth Irvin, Terence Healey, Christopher Polito and Sharon Rose

Our first enforcement update for 2018 covers:

FERC terminates DOE NOPR proceeding on grid resilience and initiates new proceeding;
FERC increases maximum civil penalties for violations;
TOTAL files petition for writ of certiorari in Supreme Court;
FERC loses again – Judge rules Powhatan and Chen are entitled to a de novo trial in district court;
Judge denies Silkman and CES objection to magistrate’s discovery rulings in district court; and
ERCOT proposes rule revisions to protect its jurisdictional independence from FERC.

DOE, ERCOT, FERC

U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Requires Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines to Recalculate Rates

Jan 17 2018

Kenneth Irvin, Emily P. Mallen, William Williams and Greg Kusel

On Jan. 12, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued data requests to four interstate pipelines that are proposing incremental recourse rates in pending Natural Gas Act (NGA) Section 7 certificate applications.1 This action was significant because it appears to be FERC’s first step toward responding to tax law changes in the Law to Provide for Reconciliation Pursuant to Titles II and V of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018, also known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (2017 Tax Act).

FERC permits pipelines and public utilities to recover their actual or potential tax expenses in their regulated rates. The 2017 Tax Act reduces the corporate tax rate to 21 percent and allows certain investments to receive bonus depreciation treatment. FERC asked each pipeline to 1) explain how the 2017 Tax Act impacts its proposed project cost of service and the resulting initial recourse rate proposal; 2) provide an adjusted cost of service and recalculated initial incremental recourse rates; and 3) provide all supporting work papers and formulas.2

Energy, FERC, Natural Gas, NGA, Pipelines, Tax

Sidley Environmental Trends

Jan 09 2018

Environmental Trends Contributors

Topics discussed this week include:

DOI proposes opening nearly all federal coastal waters to oil and gas drilling.
BLM rescinds 2015 Obama administration fracking rule.
EPA issues advance notice soliciting comment on Clean Power Plan substitutes.
EPA draft risk assessment concludes that glyphosate is not likely carcinogenic to humans.
Virginia DEQ publishes draft regulation to join RGGI.

General

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Energy Enforcement Update

Sidley Environmental Trends

Energy Enforcement Update

U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Requires Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines to Recalculate Rates

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