Regulatory Activity Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Last week, pursuant to a request by Congress in 2010, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing activities on drinking water resources in the United States. The activities covered in the assessment include: water acquisition, chemical mixing, well … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Clean Water Act The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will extend its public comment period on the proposed “Clean Water Act Methods Update Rule for the Analysis of Effluent” until May 20. Background on the proposed rule can be found here. Mineral Activity on the OCS The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Arctic Comprehensive Conservation Plan The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released its Record of Decision for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement. According to the agency, this document “establishes the management direction for Arctic Refuge for the next 15 years.” Funding for Hydropower Projects … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity New Hydraulic Fracturing Rule Released The U.S. Department of Interior has released its final agency rule that would regulate the use of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas development on federal and tribal lands. The final rule could have a significant impact on the oil and gas industry given the scope of oil … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Greenhouse Gas Rule The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) anticipated Proposed Rule concerning greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for existing coal and natural gas fired power plants will be released to the public on Monday, June 2, at 10:30 am. To advance public awareness of the proposed rule, the President devoted his Saturday radio address … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity EPA To Propose New GHG Emissions Rule for Oil and Gas Facilities The EPA is proposing revisions to the greenhouse gas reporting rule for oil and gas facilities that will revise calculation methods, monitoring and data reporting requirements, terms and definitions including confidentiality determinations. Affected parties are likely to include: pipeline transportation of … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Climate Change In advance of this week, Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Power, issued invitations to the administrators of 13 agencies to testify at a hearing to be held this Wednesday, September 18, titled “The Obama Administration’s Climate Change Policies.” The hearing will … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Tuesday, July 23: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on the FAIR Act of 2013 (S. 1273), a bill to provide for additional federal-state royalty revenue sharing from energy development. The House Natural Resources Committee will hold an oversight hearing on the status of the … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Tuesday, June 25: A Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee will consider pending energy efficiency legislation. Wednesday, June 26: A House Natural Resources Subcommittee will hold a hearing on “The Power Marketing Administrations: A Ratepayer Perspective.” Regulatory Activity Hydraulic Fracturing According to a senior EPA official, the federal research study … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Thursday, June 13: A House Natural Resources Subcommittee will hold an oversight hearing titled “Mining in America: The Administration’s Use of Claim Maintenance Fees and Cleanup of Abandoned Mine Lands.” Regulatory Activity Hydraulic Fracturing The Interior Department will extend the public comment period on the revised proposed rule to regulate … Continue Reading
