Written by:
Sara Jenkins -
Research Assistant
Jackie Schweichler -
Staff Attorney
The following
information is an update of recent local, state, national, and international
legal developments relevant to shale gas.
Pipelines: NY State
Department of Environmental Conservation Denies Permit for Proposed Northeast
Supply Enhancement Pipeline Project
On May 15, 2019, the New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) denied a permit, without prejudice, for Williams’ NorthEast Supply
Enhancement proposed pipeline project (Project). More specifically, DEC denied the Water Quality
Certification required under section 401 of the Clean Water Act. DEC cited
impacts to aquatic life and public health caused by rising copper and mercury
levels that would result from the Project. The Project, operated by Williams,
is designed to expand the existing Transco pipeline system in Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, and New York, providing an additional 400 million cubic feet of natural
gas per day to the Northeast.
Production and
Operation: U.S. EIA Drilling Productivity Report Shows Increases in New-Well
Production and Overall Oil and Gas Production.
On May 13, 2019, the
U.S. Energy Information Administration released its monthly Drilling Productivity Report (Report). The Report uses data on the total
number of drilling rigs in operation in a given region. Most notably, the
Report shows the largest increase in the Permian region for new-well oil
production per rig, from 654 barrels/day in May, to an estimated 682
barrels/day in June. The Haynesville region had the highest increase in
new-well gas production per rig, from 10,665 cubic feet per day to 10,834 cubic
feet per day. The Permian region also had the highest estimated overall oil
production increase from May to June, and the Appalachian region had the
highest estimated overall gas production from May to June.
Federal Lands: Bureau of
Land Management Releases Draft Lewistown Resource Management Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement
On May 17, 2019, the
U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management released a draft resource management plan and draft environmental impact statement
for certain counties in Montana. This plan covers 12.9 million acres of land
and almost 2 million acres of federal mineral estate. Issues covered
within the plan include mineral and energy development, livestock grazing, soil,
water resources, socioeconomics, and more.
According to the press release, the purpose of the plan is to analyze
environmental, economic, and sociological impacts of various resource
management options.
From the National Oil
& Gas Law Experts:
Pennsylvania
Legislation:
HB828: would amend well permit requirements in Title 58 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (Laid on the table- May 14, 2019)
HB827: would allow landowners living in the Delaware River Basin to
receive compensation calculated in the same manner as other eminent domain
actions (Remarks see House Journal Page- May 14, 2019)
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This week we published
two new Shale Law in the Spotlight articles: Shale Law in the Spotlight – Update on State Critical
Infrastructure Protection Statutes: Indiana, Iowa, and Louisiana and Shale Law in the Spotlight –North Dakota Governor Burgum
Signs Critical Infrastructure Protection Legislation.
Check the April Agricultural Law Brief! Each month we compile the biggest legal
developments in agriculture. If you’d like to receive this update via email,
check out our website and subscribe!
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