On February 28, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejected a request by three environmental groups to stay orders from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) approving the construction of a 39-mile natural gas pipeline in northeast Pennsylvania that will transport natural gas extracted from the Marcellus Shale to a larger… Continue Reading
Monthly Archives: February 2012
University of Texas Study: Hydraulic Fracturing Not a Demonstrated Risk to Groundwater
Posted in Hydraulic FracturingOn February 16, 2012, the University of Texas Energy Institute released a report titled “Fact-Based Regulation for Environmental Protection in Shale Gas Development.” Weighing in at over 400 pages, the report comprehensively examined hydraulic fracturing from a number of different perspectives, including: public perception of the issue; media coverage; environmental impacts from shale operations; and regulatory… Continue Reading
Pennsylvania Enacts Legislation Imposing Levy on Gas Drillers, Standardizing Zoning
Posted in LegislativePennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed into law on February 13, 2012, legislation strengthening state regulation of oil and gas drilling, allowing counties to impose a 15-year natural gas drilling impact fee, and limiting the ability of local governments to restrict drilling operations using local zoning laws. The bill, H.B. 1950, implements an array of environmental… Continue Reading
Ohio EPA Issues Final General Air Permit for Shale Production Operations
Posted in Air EmissionsOn February 1, 2012, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (“Ohio EPA”) issued a final general air permit to cover natural gas production operations at shale gas well sites in Ohio. The general permit covers emissions from a variety of sources found at most shale gas well sites, such as generators, internal combustion engines, storage tanks… Continue Reading
Senate Bill 1100 Passes Senate and Awaits Hearings in House Finance Committee
Posted in LegislativeSenate Bill 1100, which passed out of the Pennsylvania Senate 29-20, is now pending in the House Finance Committee. The bill would consolidate oil and gas provisions, and amend the Shale Impact Fee on Unconventional Wells. In the first year of production, a fee base of $50,000 would be in place that would decrease to… Continue Reading
West Virginia Legislature Passes HB 401, Natural Gas Horizontal Well Control Act in Special Session
Posted in LegislativeBill is supported by Governor Tomblin and Rules are expected soon During a special session called by Governor Tomblin, the West Virginia legislature approved landmark legislation to address Marcellus Shale regulatory reform in that state. House Bill 401 passed overwhelmingly out of the West Virginia assembly by a 94-5 vote December 14 prior to a… Continue Reading