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SRBC Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
October 11, 2016
Posted By: Abigail Faulkner Jones

On September 21, 2016, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking/Notice of Public Hearings in the Federal Register.  The proposed regulations would affect application requirements for project approval and(…)

Pennsylvania IRRC Approves Chapter 78/78a Regulations
April 22, 2016
Posted By: Michael K. Reer

On April 21, 2016, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) approved the Environmental Quality Board’s Chapter 78 (conventional wells) and Chapter 78a (unconventional wells) regulations by a vote of 3-2.  Vice Chairman Mizner, in making a m(…)

Pipeline Safety Alert: Five Questions About PHMSA's Proposed Rules for Gas Transmission and Gathering Lines
March 21, 2016
Posted By: Keith J. Coyle

On March 17, 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a pre-publication version of its long-awaited notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for gas transmission and gathering line(…)

Environmental Quality Board Adopts Chapter 78/78a Rulemaking
February 3, 2016
Posted By: Michael K. Reer

On February 3, 2016, the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) adopted significant revisions to the Commonwealth’s oil and natural gas regulations by a vote of 15 to 4.  EQB’s vote formally splits current Chapter 78 (Oil and Gas Wells) into n(…)

Public Hearings Announced for EPA Air Rules Targeting Oil and Gas Sector
August 27, 2015
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will host three public hearings in September regarding proposed Clean Air Act rulemaking actions that will affect the oil and gas industry.  Two hearings will be held in Denver and(…)

EPA Announces Rulemaking Proposal to Curb Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Sector
August 18, 2015
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally announced its highly-anticipated proposal to regulate methane emissions from the oil and natural gas sector.  Specifically, EPA is proposing to amend the New Source Performance Standards (N(…)

Pennsylvania DEP Releases Latest Revisions Of Oil And Gas Rulemaking
August 13, 2015
Posted By: Matthew L. Lambach

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently announced the draft final revisions to the “Environmental Protection Performance Standards at Oil and Gas Well Sites” rulemaking (Chapters 78 and 78a).  Following the most recent r(…)

Gov. Tomblin Forms the WV Commission on Oil and Natural Gas Industry Safety
July 10, 2015
Posted By: Briana J. Marino

On July 9, 2015, Governor Tomblin announced the formation and appointment of members to the West Virginia Commission on Oil and Natural Gas Industry Safety.  Publicized during Governor Tomblin’s State of the State address in early 2015, the Commission(…)

OMB Begins Review of EPA Proposals to Curb Methane Emissions, Define Major Source
June 25, 2015
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

This week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent a highly-anticipated proposed rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for interagency review that would address methane emissions in the oil and natural gas sector.  E(…)

EPA Proposes Prohibition on Discharge of Unconventional Wastewater to POTWs
April 7, 2015
Posted By: Abigail Faulkner Jones

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule under the Clean Water Act that would prohibit the discharge of unconventional oil and gas extraction wastewaters to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs).  The rule would(…)

USEPA Extends Waters of the United States Comment Deadline
October 7, 2014
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has, for a second time, extended the public comment deadline associated with its proposed rule to redefine “waters of the United States” and related terms for purposes of various federal Clean Water Act(…)

Ohio DNR Opens Comment Period for Draft Rules on Well Pad Construction
September 26, 2014
Posted By: Michael T. Altvater

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has opened the comment period on its draft rules for the construction of horizontal well sites. All interested parties may submit comments in writing by the close-of-business on Monday, October 06, 2014 to dogr(…)

WVDEP Releases Draft Rule Affecting Aboveground Storage Tanks
September 10, 2014
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) has released a draft “Interpretative Rule” to implement certain inspection, certification, and spill prevention – response plan provisions of the Aboveground Storage Tank Act (AST Act) e(…)

House Votes to Thwart USEPA and Army Corps’ ‘Waters of the United States’ Rulemaking
September 10, 2014
Posted By: Abigail Faulkner Jones

On September 9, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass a bill introduced in response to the ‘Waters of the United States’ Proposed Rule that was prepared jointly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and U.S. Environmental Protection Ag(…)

Draft Final BLM Rules Under White House Review
September 3, 2014
Posted By: Abigail Faulkner Jones

The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has taken another step towards finalizing updated regulations for hydraulic fracturing on federal and Indian lands, by sending a revised final rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) fo(…)

USEPA Proposes Amendments to Air Rules Affecting Oil and Gas Industry
July 17, 2014
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) published proposed amendments to federal air regulations at 40 C.F.R. 60, Subpart OOOO (Standards of Performance for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production, Transmission and Distribution).  Subpart(…)

Public Comment Deadlines Extended for Key USEPA Actions
June 19, 2014
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recently extended the public comment deadlines associated with its proposed rulemaking to redefine “waters of the United States” for federal Clean Water Act programs and its request for information rega(…)

Administrative Watch: RACT Rulemaking Expected to Impact Major Sources of NOx and VOC Emissions in Pennsylvania
April 23, 2014
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

Proposed regulatory amendments published on April 19, 2014 are likely to affect hundreds of facilities in Pennsylvania.  The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) has estimated that 141 sources will need to install additional pol(…)

"Waters of the United States" Rule Open for Public Comment
April 23, 2014
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

On April 21, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published in the Federal Register its proposed rule to define “waters of the United States” and related key terms for purposes of determining the extent of federal agency jurisdiction under t(…)

EPA Proposes Amendments to Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems
March 13, 2014
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

This week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposal to amend Subpart W of the greenhouse gas reporting program rules, which affects the Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems source category.  According to EPA’s fact sheet, “[t]he(…)

Pennsylvania DEP Announces Chapter 78 Comment Period, Webinars and EQB Public Hearing Schedule
December 12, 2013
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a press release to announce the opening of the public comment period for its long-awaited proposal to revise the oil and gas regulations at 25 Pa. Code Chapter 78 (environment(…)

New York’s Proposal to Lift Ban on LNG Storage Facilities Stirs Debate
December 12, 2013
Posted By: Michael C. Murphy

Environmental groups and industry organizations are at an impasse over regulations proposed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) that would lift the state’s 40-year ban on the construction and operation of liquefied nat(…)

Federal Pipeline Safety Regulator Proposes to Update Industry Standards Incorporated by Reference
August 16, 2013
Posted By: Keith Coyle

On August 16, 2013, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register that contained a package of periodic updates to the vol(…)

West Virginia Legislature to Consider Horizontal Well Rules and Several Energy Bills
February 19, 2013
Posted By: Jon Dan

The State Journal reports that West Virginia lawmakers introduced 60 energy-related bills in the first two days of the 2013 regular West Virginia legislative session.  Twenty four of the bills concern natural gas, while 16 address a broad range of coa(…)

Fate of New York Fracking Rules Remains Uncertain Amidst Demands for Additional Public Comment
February 7, 2013
Posted By: Ed Yim

The fate of New York’s fracking moratorium remains uncertain.  According to the Huffington Post, if the rules proposed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are not finalized by February 27, 2013, the proposal will expir(…)