Written by:
Jacqueline Schweichler - Education Programs Coordinator
Jacqueline Schweichler - Education Programs Coordinator
The following
information is an update of recent local, state, national, and international
legal developments relevant to shale gas.
State Regulation:
Pennsylvania DEP Announces New Funding for Additional Staff
On January 26, 2018,
Governor Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced a plan to
allocate $2.5 million in the 2018-19 fiscal year for additional staffing. In
the press release, DEP stated that over the past ten years DEP staff was
reduced by 43% which has caused a significant backlog and an increased wait
time for permits. The purpose of the plan is to “reduce permit backlogs,
modernize permitting processes, and better utilize technology to improve both
oversight and efficiency.” Some of the new initiatives include expanding the
e-permitting system, creating a new analytics program, releasing new review
processes for permits, and supporting legislation for extended permit terms.
Production and
Operation: Pennsylvania DEP Launches Initiative to Plug Abandoned Oil and Gas
Wells
On January 30, 2018, the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced a new initiative
that encourages private-sector groups to participate in the program to cap
abandoned oil and gas wells within the state. DEP is offering liability
protection for private parties assisting in the program. According to DEP, there are
thousands of abandoned wells in Pennsylvania that constitute health, safety,
and environmental hazards. The program is being offered under the Environmental
Good Samaritan Act of 1999 which
“protects groups and individuals who volunteer to implement qualifying
environmental remediation projects from civil and environmental liability.” The
program does not provide immunity for damage caused by reckless or grossly
negligent acts or omissions.
Crude Oil by Rail:
Washington Governor Denies Oil-by-Rail Terminal in Vancouver
On January 29, 2018,
Washington Governor, Jay Inslee, announced the
decision to reject a permit for the new oil-by-rail terminal at the Port of
Vancouver. The 360,000 barrel-per-day terminal was proposed by the Tesoro-Savage
Joint Venture. The Energy Facility Site
Evaluation Council (Council) evaluated the project and recommended in November
2017 that the permit be denied. The governor’s decision to deny the permit was
based on several issues including “seismic risks, the inability to sufficiently
mitigate oil spill risks, and the potential safety risks of a fire or
explosion.” Tesoro Savage will have 30 days to appeal the permit denial.
PA Impact Fee:
Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office Releases Impact Fee Estimate
On January 31, 2018,
Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released their 2017 Impact Fee Estimate. The impact fee in Pennsylvania is imposed on
unconventional wells and the proceeds are distributed to local governments and
state agencies. The proceeds are used for infrastructure, emergency services,
and environmental initiatives. IFO estimates an impact fee collection of $219.4
million for 2017, which constitutes a $46 million increase from 2016.
LNG Exports: Maryland
Cove Point LNG Facility Begins Production
On January 31, 2018,
Dominion Energy’s Cove Point LNG Export Project began producing liquefied
natural gas at its Maryland facility. Construction of the facility began in
October 2014 and final export approval was granted by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission in November 2017. Cove Point is
located on the Chesapeake bay in Lusby, Maryland. The project cost $4 billion
and will process approximately 750 million cubic feet per day of inlet feed
gas. The natural gas for the facility will be sourced from the Marcellus and
Utica Shale Plays.
National Energy Policy:
BLM Releases Memorandum on Oil and Gas Leasing Policy
On January 31, 2018, the
U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released an Instruction
Memorandum setting out a new policy to
streamline the oil and natural gas drilling process on federal lands. The
policy encourages the simplifying and streamlining of land use planning, lease
parcel review, lease sales and lease issuance. Under the new policy, BLM will
no longer use a rotating lease sale schedule. The new policy also rescinds the
use of Master Leasing Plans and sets a time frame for parcel review of lease
sales to be no longer than 6 months. These changes and the memorandum, Updating
Oil and Gas Leasing Reform - Land Use Planning and Lease Parcel Reviews can be found on the BLM’s website.
Induced Seismicity:
Study Suggests Increase in Seismicity in Oklahoma Due to Wastewater Injection
On February 1, 2018,
research published in Science, found
that the increase in seismicity in Oklahoma is likely due to wastewater
injection. The study found that “injection depth relative to crystalline
basement most strongly correlates with seismic moment release.” The depth of
the wastewater injection combined with the volume of liquid created the greatest
seismic effect. The researchers recommend limiting the depth of wastewater
injection to reduce the effects of induced seismicity in Oklahoma. The study is
entitled, Oklahoma’s Induced Seismicity Strongly Linked to
Wastewater Injection Depth.
Follow us on Twitter at PSU Ag & Shale Law (@AgShaleLaw) to receive ShaleLaw HotLinks
"Natural gas-fueled power plants on rise' - TribLive
"Senecas call for denial of proposed wastewater
treatment facility in Potter Co." -
Ocean Times Herald
"Britain To Tighten Financial Checks On Fracking
Firms" - Oil and Gas Investor
"Dominion to start Cove Point LNG exports early
March" - LNG World News
"Natural gas truck sales inch upward" - CCJ News
"Natural gas production growing faster than demand
in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia"
- Daily Energy Insider
"Building a pipeline, one landowner at a time" - Post-gazette
"The Big Apple Benefits From Pennsylvania Shale
Gas" - Shale Magazine
Connect with us on Facebook!
Every week we will post the CASL Ledger which details all our publications and
activities from the week.
See our Global Shale Law Compendium and this week’s article, Shale Governance in Mid-Atlantic states (Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland)
Check out this week’s
Shale Law in the Spotlight:
Oil and Natural Gas Severance Taxes in the United States
(Michigan, Alaska, Nebraska, and California)
Stay informed with our
monthly Agricultural Law Brief located here.
Angka Jitu Hk
ReplyDeleteAngka Jitu Sgp
Syair Togel Singapore
Syair Togel Hk
Syair Hk
Prediksi Jitu Hk
Prediksi Togel Jitu
Syair Sgp