Regulatory

Climate Change was a Distraction to the EPA Fulfilling its Core Responsibilities says EPA’s Rockies Regional Administrator

Climate Change was a Distraction to the EPA Fulfilling its Core Responsibilities says EPA’s Rockies Regional Administrator

EPA’s priorities have changed: Benevento

From the Casper Star-Tribune

Wyoming disliked the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, a 2015 proposed regulation on utilities that aimed to cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 30 percent.

State economists said the …

November 27, 2017 - 10:28 am Closing Bell Story‎, Energy News, Regulatory
Massachusetts Congressman Lynch Introduces Restrictive Legislation for NatGas Projects

Massachusetts Congressman Lynch Introduces Restrictive Legislation for NatGas Projects

On Monday, Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-Boston) introduced H.R. 4381, the Natural Gas Pipeline Public Health Protection Act of 2017, which would suspend construction and expansion of natural gas facilities in communities with unsafe air pollutant levels.

The Act would …

November 14, 2017 - 10:50 am Closing Bell Story‎, Energy News, Regulatory
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration and IHS Market

FERC Gets Back to Work Reviewing Pipeline Applications, and There Are Plenty of Them

Several key new projects approved in Northeast Utica and Marcellus; 50 more in process

Without pipelines to take Marcellus and Utica natural gas and liquids production to the markets that need the gas, the shale boom stagnates—it’s been a problem …

A Wattenberg Victory: Extraction Oil & Gas Receives Approval from Broomfield

A Wattenberg Victory: Extraction Oil & Gas Receives Approval from Broomfield

Extraction went far beyond what state law requires to gain local approval of a well development plan within Broomfield city and county limits

Wattenberg-DJ operator Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. (NASDAQ:XOG) has received approval for its Operator Agreement with the …

EPA Boss Ends “Sue & Settle” Environmental Policymaking

EPA Boss Ends “Sue & Settle” Environmental Policymaking

“The days of regulation through litigation are over,” – EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt issued an Agency-wide directive today designed to end “sue and settle” policymaking practices within the EPA. The boss of one of the government’s …

October 17, 2017 - 4:43 pm Closing Bell Story‎, Law, Oil and Gas 360 Articles, Regulatory
EPA Chief Pulls Plug on Clean Power Plan

EPA Chief Pulls Plug on Clean Power Plan

For coal the damage is already done, plants are switching to natural gas

Today U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes to repeal the prior administration’s Clean Power Plan (CPP).…

TransCanada Axes Two Pipeline Projects

TransCanada Axes Two Pipeline Projects

Energy East and Eastern Mainline applications withdrawn by TransCanada

TransCanada Corporation (ticker: TRP) said in a press release today that it will no longer be proceeding with its proposed Energy East Pipeline and Eastern Mainline projects.

TransCanada President and Chief …

Source: University of Colorado

Commissioners Warn Boulder County Residents that Oil Companies are Making Plans to Drill

Extraction’s 8 North LLC and Crestone Peak Resources have submitted drilling plans to the state to start developing Boulder County Wattenberg assets; commissioners “are very concerned”

In a county that is host to a symposium this weekend called “Warrior Principle, …

Will Enbridge’s Line 3 become the Next Keystone XL?

Will Enbridge’s Line 3 become the Next Keystone XL?

Minnesota Commerce Dept. sees no need for Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Pipeline Project

The Line 3 Replacement Program is a multi-billion dollar private investment consisting of 1,031 miles of 36-inch diameter pipeline beginning in Hardisty, Alberta and ending in Superior,

Federal Appeals Court Sides with Sierra Club in Florida Pipeline Case

Federal Appeals Court Sides with Sierra Club in Florida Pipeline Case

Sabal Trail: court requires FERC to account for GHG impact from pipeline’s downstream gas users

On August 22, 2017, the United States Court of Appeals serving the District of Columbia circuit granted the petition for review in the case of …

House Passes Two Bills to Overhaul Oil & Gas Pipeline Permitting

House Passes Two Bills to Overhaul Oil & Gas Pipeline Permitting

The House of Representatives has passed two energy bills that introduce targeted reforms to the federal government’s permitting and siting policies for oil and natural gas pipelines.

The House today passed the following bills:

H.R. 2883, Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure

BOEM Offers GOM Leases at Reduced Royalty Rate for Shallow Water Leases

BOEM Offers GOM Leases at Reduced Royalty Rate for Shallow Water Leases

In a step towards fulfilling the Five-Year National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke made known on July 13th the availability of 75.9 million acres in the Gulf of …

NOAA Study: Agriculture and Wetlands Triggered Earth’s Methane Rise—Not Oil & Gas Operations

NOAA Study: Agriculture and Wetlands Triggered Earth’s Methane Rise—Not Oil & Gas Operations

After a decade of blaming oil and gas drilling, turns out cows and rice are among primary culprits: NOAA

Recent increases in atmospheric methane are not because of fossil fuels after all, according to a recent release from the National

Lost Revenue: 2,800 Federal Lease Applications Pending with Average Wait Time of 257 Days

Lost Revenue: 2,800 Federal Lease Applications Pending with Average Wait Time of 257 Days

Interior Sec. Zinke Signs Order To Streamline Federal Onshore O&G Lease Permit Process

As of January 31, 2017, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) had 2,802 Applications for Permit to Drill (APD) pending, and despite the fact that statute requires …

President Trump, Secretary Zinke Begin Comment Period for 5-Year Offshore Oil and Gas Lease Program

President Trump, Secretary Zinke Begin Comment Period for 5-Year Offshore Oil and Gas Lease Program

“This is a truly amazing moment in the energy sector…” – Secs. Perry, Zinke and Pruitt

At an event on Thursday, June 29, 2017, in order to help kick off what the Trump Administration has dubbed “Energy Week,” …

BOEM Extends its Review of Financial Assurance Requirements for OCS Decommissioning

BOEM Extends its Review of Financial Assurance Requirements for OCS Decommissioning

Secretary’s mandated review of NTL No. 2016-N01 will get more time 

In an announcement on June 22, 2017, BOEM reiterated that Secretary’s Order 3350, issued on May 1, 2017, directed BOEM to “promptly complete a review of Notice to Lessees …

New Congressional Caucus Seeks to Explain Positives of Oil and Gas Development to Democrat Members

New Congressional Caucus Seeks to Explain Positives of Oil and Gas Development to Democrat Members

Congressional Oil & Gas Caucus will be a platform for pro-industry Democrats

Freshman Congressman Vincente González (D-TX) recently announced the formation of the Congressional Oil & Gas Caucus. This caucus aims to educate members of Congress about oil and gas …

Two New Bills to Expedite Pipeline Approval Process Begin Markup

Two New Bills to Expedite Pipeline Approval Process Begin Markup

In an attempt to modernize the United States’ energy infrastructure, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, within the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce, began considering a group of bills on June 20th, 2017, which are …

Martinez v. COGCC Decision Could Upend Colorado Oil & Gas Permitting

Martinez v. COGCC Decision Could Upend Colorado Oil & Gas Permitting

Direction of state’s oil and gas regulator awaits high court review of Martinez decision

Martinez v. COGCC Decision Could Upend Colorado Oil & Gas Permitting

In May, the Colorado Attorney General petitioned the Colorado Supreme Court to review the appellate court’s ruling in the case of Martinez v. Colorado Oil and …

ExxonMobil Responds to NY Attorney General’s Allegations

ExxonMobil Responds to NY Attorney General’s Allegations

ExxonMobil Corp. lambasted New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman after he made what Exxon calls, “inflammatory, reckless, and false allegations,” regarding the manner in which the company evaluates the impact of global warming on its assets and operations.

The NY …

USGS Well Study: Unconventional Oil & Gas Development Having Little or No Effect on Drinking Water Quality

USGS Well Study: Unconventional Oil & Gas Development Having Little or No Effect on Drinking Water Quality

USGS examines water wells in Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Fayetteville aquifers

The USGS published a study last week investigating the effects of oil and gas production on drinking water quality.

The study examined a total of 116 water wells in Texas, …

Energy Committee Advances FERC, DOE, DOI Nominees to Senate for Confirmation

Energy Committee Advances FERC, DOE, DOI Nominees to Senate for Confirmation

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced four nominees to the Senate floor on Tuesday. The following nominees will move forward to Senate confirmation:

  • David Bernhardt to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior, by a vote of 14-9
What’s Worth More to the State of Texas—Land or Oil?

Texas Railroad Commission Keeps its Name, Commissioner Discusses Innovative Disruption

Sitton is Texas Railroad Commission’s first engineer in 50 years

Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton met with 100 senior level oil and gas executives in Houston this week for An Energy Evening.

Sitton was elected to the Railroad Commission in …

Anadarko Details its Response to the Firestone, Colorado, NatGas Home Explosion

Anadarko Details its Response to the Firestone, Colorado, NatGas Home Explosion

Wells Fargo assesses fallout for Colorado oil and gas operators

The cut natural gas flowline that preliminary investigations have said caused the house explosion incident in Firestone, Colorado, in Weld County, has led Anadarko Petroleum (ticker: APC) to take significant …

AG Refers Martinez Appellate Court Decision to Colorado Supreme Court

AG Refers Martinez Appellate Court Decision to Colorado Supreme Court

Outcome could have ‘profound effect’ on how or whether oil and gas operations are permitted in Colorado

Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman has sent what could turn into a landmark oil and gas ruling to the Colorado Supreme Court for …

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at Paris Agreement Ratification Ceremony.
From Paris to Hangzhou – Climate Response in Action.
H.E. Mr. XI Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China and H.E. Mr. Barack Obama, President of the United States of America present the instrument for the Paris Agreement to the Secretary-General.

Climate-Related Financial Disclosure a Terrible Idea: IHS Report

New IHS report finds FSB’s climate risk reporting recommendations would undermine capital allocation decisions and could distort markets

In December 2016, the Basel, Switzerland-based Financial Stability Board (FSB) put out the recommendation of its Michael Bloomberg-led task force that concluded …

Edge of the Wattenberg: Colorado: Weld County Just Created its Own Oil & Gas Department

Edge of the Wattenberg: as Moratorium Expires Crestone Peak Attempts to bring Drilling Back to Boulder County

Crestone Peak applied to drill 216 wells in Boulder County

Judge dismisses Colorado Attorney General’s lawsuit v. Boulder County after moratorium expires on May 1

Local control is alive and well in Boulder County

By Bevo Beaven, Editor, Oil &

Federal Chemical Investigators to Examine Colorado Home Explosion Site, Gas Well

Federal Chemical Investigators to Examine Colorado Home Explosion Site, Gas Well

CSB investigated Macondo

An independent federal industrial chemical incident investigation arm–the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB)–said today that it is dispatching Denver-based investigators to the recent home explosion site in Weld County, Colorado.

Initial information from fire officials and other …

Canada’s Carbon Pricing Isn’t Working – Fraser Institute

Canada’s Carbon Pricing Isn’t Working – Fraser Institute

“Carbon-pricing in Canada doesn’t work the way ivory tower economists envision, and instead has become just another tax,” said Kenneth Green, Fraser Institute’s senior director of energy and natural resource studies and author of Poor Implementation Undermines Carbon Tax Efficiency

Colorado Attorney Tapped for No. 2 Role at Interior Department

From The Denver Business Journal and Department of Interior

Colorado native David Bernhardt, an attorney and lobbyist for Denver-based law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, has been tapped by President Donald Trump to be deputy secretary of the U.S. …

May 2, 2017 - 11:57 am Closing Bell Story‎, Energy News, Regulatory