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Inflation Reduction Act
Underground Drilling Access for UK Shale Developers: The 300 Metre Question
Since the lifting of the fracking moratorium in December 2012, the UK Government has continued to work with regulators and the industry to develop a clear regulatory regime for shale gas which encourages exploration and investment while protecting public safety...
East Africa Licensing Update
When bidding in Tanzania's 4 th Offshore Licensing Round was officially closed on 15 May, the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) announced bids by CNOOC, RAK Gas, ExxonMobil/Statoil, Mubadala and Gazprom and with other licensing rounds in the region scheduled...
Mexican President Submits Legislation to Congress for Implementation of Constitutional Energy Reforms
Following the historic constitutional energy reforms passed by the Mexican Congress in December 2013, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto submitted on April 30, 2014 for the consideration and approval of the Mexican Congress the secondary legislation (the "Legislation") that will...
Texas Greenhouse Gas Regulations Go Into Effect
On April 17, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's new greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations became effective, establishing the framework for a new GHG permitting program at TCEQ, which the agency hopes to begin implementing in the summer of 2014. Before...
CFTC Seeks Input on Dodd-Frank Implementation Issues Affecting Energy End-Users
With most of its rules implementing the swap regulatory provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act ("Dodd-Frank") in place, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") is seeking new public input on several aspects of its Dodd-Frank...
Proposed "Waters of the U.S." Rule: Can Significant Nexus Be Clarified?
On March 31 , we discussed that, at best, EPA's and the Corps' proposed rule defining what waters fall under federal jurisdiction provides only partial clarity. The agencies have done little to clarify the circumstances in which there is no...
Texas One Step Closer to Obtaining Authority to Issue GHG Air Permits
As anticipated, on March 26, 2014, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) adopted rules to implement House Bill 788, which required the Commission to establish greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rules. The new rules will become effective on April 17...
Proposed "Waters of the U.S." Rule Improves Regulatory Clarity - In Part
On March 28, we looked at the question of whether the rule proposed by the U.S. EPA and Army Corps of Engineers redefining their Clean Water Act jurisdiction was just a restatement of the current law. Today we will look...
Recent Legal Developments in the Roaring Utica Shale
Ohio's Utica Shale has been one of the hottest shale plays in the nation over the past six to nine months and in the midst of the impressive amount of activity (both from a transactional and operational standpoint) practitioners (and...
Oklahoma Enters the Fray of Endangered Species Sue-and-Settle
On March 17, 2014, the State of Oklahoma sued the U.S. Department of the Interior, taking aim at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's habit of settling large Endangered Species Act cases with Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations. The lawsuit signals an...
Partnership Verdict In Dallas: You May Be Married and Not Know It
On Tuesday, March 4, 2014, a Dallas jury found that Enterprise Products Partners, L.P. ("Enterprise") had entered into a partnership with Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. ("ETP") to jointly develop a crude oil pipeline from Cushing, Oklahoma to the Texas Gulf...
The Future of the UK North Sea: A New Game with More Rules
On 24 February 2014, Sir Ian Wood delivered his Final Report (the " Report ") on the future of the UK Continental Shelf (" UKCS "). The Report sets out a number of conclusions and recommended actions relating largely to...
Beyond Shale: Are Methane Hydrates the Next Energy Source?
The energy of the future could lie buried deep underneath the world's oceans and the Arctic permafrost. Methane hydrates, also known as "flammable ice," are vast reservoirs of natural gas trapped in ice-like crystals and hold out the potential to...
EPA Proposes TCEQ Take Over GHG Permitting in Texas
On Tuesday, February 4, 2014, EPA issued a pre-publication copy of a proposed rule that if adopted would transfer greenhouse gas (GHG) permitting in Texas from EPA Region 6 to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The proposed rule...
EPA Issues NPDES Permit that Includes Limited Chemical Disclosure Requirements for Oil and Gas Operations Offshore California
Region 9 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency yesterday made available the finalized National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit applicable to discharges from oil and gas exploration facilities offshore Southern California. NPDES General Permit No. CAG280000 (2014 NPDES...