Oil & Gas Blog

On February 10, 2017, the Texas Railroad Commission released its permits and completions statistics for January 2017. The RRC issued a total of 956 original drilling permits during January 2017, nearly double the number of original drilling permits issued during the same period last year… Read more

On February 1, 2017, the Dallas Court of Appeals overturned a jury’s finding that an operator’s oil and natural gas activities created an intentional nuisance for a nearby landowner. The landowner brought suit against the operator for “environmental contamination and polluting events,” including… Read more

On February 7, 2017, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf released his proposed 2017-18 budget for the Commonwealth, which includes a proposed 6.5% severance tax on natural gas. Under Governor Wolf’s plan, operators would be allowed to credit the amount paid in unconventional gas well impact… Read more

On February 2 and 3, 2017, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved Energy Transfer Partners, LP’s $4.2 billion “Rover” pipeline project, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC’s $3 billion “Atlantic Sunrise” pipeline expansion, and National Fuel Gas Company’s $455 million “… Read more

On February 4, 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection opened a 45-day public comment period for two proposed general permits and revisions to an air quality permit exemption. The proposals are designed to reduce methane and other pollutants at well sites and… Read more

On January 30, 2017, President Donald Trump issued a “Presidential Executive Order on Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs.” The Executive Order requires that, unless prohibited by law, whenever an agency proposes or promulgates a new regulation through the Federal Register, the… Read more

On January 27, 2017, Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Norman C. Bay announced his resignation, effective February 3, 2017. Bay’s resignation will create a third vacancy on the five-commissioner panel, leaving FERC one commissioner short of a quorum. Routine FERC business delegated… Read more

In January 2017, the Texas Railroad Commission announced that oil and natural gas producers may now file well log data electronically.  The Commission estimates that the new electronic filing system will save operators $362,000 annually and make well log data more easily accessible… Read more

In December 2016, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court agreed to hear additional oral argument in Snyder Brothers, Inc. v. Pa. Public Utility Comm’n. The case concerns the proper interpretation of Pennsylvania’s Act 13 of 2012, which exempts from the Commonwealth’s impact fee those… Read more

On January 20, 2017, Reince Priebus, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, issued a memorandum to the heads of all executive departments and agencies concerning ongoing regulatory projects.  Specifically, Priebus instructed agency heads to: (1) immediately withdraw all regulations… Read more

In December 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service held five public meetings to discuss a proposal by nine oil and natural gas companies for an incidental take permit related to five bat species in Appalachia. If approved, the incidental take permit would exempt future oil and… Read more

On January 13, 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari in Nat’l Ass’n of Manufacturers v. Dep’t. of Def., et al., a case from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The case arises from a challenge to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army… Read more

On January 13, 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published “Accidental Release Prevention Requirements: Risk Management Programs under the Clean Air Act,” a final rule amending EPA’s Risk Management Program regulations at 40 CFR part 68, in the Federal Register.  Specifically… Read more

On January 4, 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection reported that the Commonwealth attended a Delaware River Basin Commission meeting in November 2016 at which draft regulations covering oil and natural gas development activities in the Delaware River… Read more

On December 27, 2016, Pennsylvania State Senator Scott E. Hutchinson issued a Senate Co-Sponsorship Memorandum regarding the reallocation of oil and natural gas penalties received by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Specifically, the bill would redirect oil and… Read more

On December 30, 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced the results of an Environmental Impact Study for Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC’s proposed 199.4-mile “Atlantic Sunrise” pipeline expansion. If approved, the pipeline is expected to extend from the… Read more

On December 28, 2016, U.S. District Judge John D. Bates signed a consent decree that settles a lawsuit between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and several environmental advocacy organizations concerning the agency’s treatment of oil and natural gas wastes under the Resource Conservation… Read more

On January 3, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2017 (H.R.21) by a vote of 238-184. If enacted into law, the bill would amend the Congressional Review Act to allow Congress to consider and pass a joint resolution disapproving multiple… Read more