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EPA Withdraws Controversial Methane Information Collection Request
March 3, 2017
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

Effective March 2, 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has withdrawn the information collection request (ICR) entitled, “Information Collection Effort for Oil and Gas Facilities.”  EPA issued the final ICR in November 2016, requiring(…)

Administrative Watch: Environmental Groups File Suit Over Absence of Regulation of Oil & Gas Waste
May 11, 2016
Posted By: Naeha Dixit

On May 4, 2016, seven environmental groups followed through on a prior threat to sue the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by filing a lawsuit against the EPA in a bid to force the agency to develop tailored rules for the disposal, s(…)

EPA Proposes to Revise Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule to Address Equipment Leaks
February 4, 2016
Posted By: Michael K. Reer

On January 29, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would amend the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program for the petroleum and natural gas systems source category at 40 CFR Part 98, Su(…)

Environmental Groups Plan Suit Over Absence of Regulation of Oil and Gas Waste
October 20, 2015
Posted By: Naeha Dixit

On August 26, 2015, seven environmental groups sent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a Notice of Intent to Sue the agency in an attempt to force the agency to develop tailored rules for oil and gas wastes under the Resource Conservation(…)

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(…)

EPA Inspector General Reports on Hydraulic Fracturing Regulators
July 23, 2015
Posted By: Michael K. Reer

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently released a report entitled, “Enhanced EPA Oversight and Action Can Further Protect Water Resources From the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing.”  The repo(…)

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 Issues New Rule on Definition of Waters of the United States
May 29, 2015
Posted By: Abigail Faulkner Jones

On May 27, 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) released the long-awaited final rule redefining the extent of the agencies’ jurisdiction over “waters of the United States”(…)

Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Rule Sent to White House for Review
April 7, 2015
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

This week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) announced that they have submitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a joint final rule aimed at clarifying which water bodies(…)

USEPA Seeks Small Business Input on Greenhouse Gas Rulemaking for Oil and Gas Sector
January 29, 2015
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is convening a Small Business Advocacy Review Panel to discuss a rulemaking aimed at regulating greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and natural gas sector, as part of the Obama Administration’s methane(…)

EPA Announces Plan to Reduce Methane, VOC Emissions from Oil and Gas Industry
January 14, 2015
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a fact sheet outlining the agency’s strategy for reducing emissions of methane and ground level ozone-forming pollutants from the oil and natural gas sector.  Release of the EPA strategy is(…)

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(…)

Environmental Advocacy Groups Call for National Methane Emission Standards
September 22, 2014
Posted By: Holly A. Pisanelli

On September 18, 2014, sixteen of the nation’s largest environmental advocacy groups joined forces in a letter to President Barack Obama calling for national standards aimed at reducing methane emissions from oil and gas operations.  The letter urged(…)

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(…)

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(…)

USEPA Publishes Request for Comment on Chemical Disclosure
May 19, 2014
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) published in the Federal Register its advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the disclosure of chemicals and mixtures associated with hydraulic fracturing (see previous post).  Public com(…)

USEPA Seeking to Obtain Information on Hydraulic Fracturing Chemicals and Mixtures
May 9, 2014
Posted By: Meredith Odato Graham

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced the availability of an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit public comments on “the information that should be reported or disclosed for hydraulic fracturing chemical(…)

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(…)

EPA Issues Advisory Concerning Design of Newly Constructed Natural Gas Processing Plants
February 9, 2014
Posted By: Jonathan E. Dan

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued an Interim Chemical Accident Prevention Advisory concerning the design of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) installations at natural gas processing plants.  EPA has found that some existing pl(…)

U.S. House of Representatives Passes Bill Limiting Federal Regulations on Hydraulic Fracturing
November 21, 2013
Posted By: Michael T. Altvater

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill prohibiting the Interior Department from enforcing regulations on hydraulic fracturing in any state that already has regulations in place. The bill recognizes the states’ authority to regulate hydraulic(…)

Methane Emissions from Well Sites Found to be Lower than Previously Estimated
September 25, 2013
Posted By: Jonathan E. Dan

Last week the University of Texas, in conjunction with the Environmental Defense Fund and 9 companies involved in natural gas production, released a study which found that 0.42% of natural gas produced in the U.S. is emitted into the atmosphere as met(…)

U.S. EPA Gives Lead to Wyoming in Pavillion Gas Migration Study
June 21, 2013
Posted By: Meredith Odato

On Thursday, U.S. EPA announced that the State of Wyoming will lead further investigation of drinking water quality in Pavillion, Wyoming.  In 2009, EPA began working with the state and local tribes to investigate water quality in the Pavillion area i(…)

Ohio and West Virginia Defend Fracking in Letter to U.S. EPA
June 12, 2013
Posted By: Leah LaFramboise

On Friday, June 7th, twelve energy-producing states, including Ohio and West Virginia, signed a letter to the EPA defending the industry practice of hydraulic fracturing. The letter was in response to recent threats to sue the EPA for not assuming reg(…)

Inspector General to Investigate U.S. EPA Efforts to Reduce Methane Leaks from Distribution Lines
June 6, 2013
Posted By: Keith Coyle

According to recent reports, the Inspector General (IG) has informed officials at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) that an investigation will be conducted in connection with the agency’s efforts to reduce methane emissions(…)

Senate Committee Votes in Favor of McCarthy
May 16, 2013
Posted By: Meredith Odato

Today the U.S. Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works voted 10-8 in favor of advancing Gina McCarthy’s nomination for EPA Administrator.  The nomination now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

McCarthy Nomination Vote Rescheduled for May 16
May 14, 2013
Posted By: Meredith Odato

The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has rescheduled the vote on the nomination of Gina McCarthy for EPA Administrator for May 16, 2013.  The Committee was forced to reschedule the vote in light of a boycott last week by Republica(…)

McCarthy Nomination for EPA Administrator Stalled by Boycott in Committee
May 12, 2013
Posted By: Jon Dan

Reuters reports that all eight Republican members of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee refused to participate in a scheduled vote on May 9, 2013.  The boycott prevented Gina McCarthy’s nomination from proceeding to the next step,(…)

Senate Committee to Vote on McCarthy Nomination for Top EPA Administrator
May 3, 2013
Posted By: Keith Coyle

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has announced that the Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a vote May 9, 2013, on Gina McCarthy’s nomination to serve as the next Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  McCarthy appea(…)

U.S. EPA Inspector General Reports on Need to Improve Air Emissions Data for Oil and Gas Sector
February 25, 2013
Posted By: Keith Coyle

In a report issued last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) asked the agency to improve its air emissions data for the oil and gas industry.  Specifically, OIG called on EPA to implement a comprehen(…)