USGS Estimates Bossier and Haynesville Formations

On April 13, 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey announced that the Bossier and Haynesville formations onshore and within state waters along the Gulf Coast contain an estimated 4.0 billion barrels of oil, 304.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and 1.9 billion barrels of natural gas… Read more

Trump Administration Means Widespread Changes for Oil and Gas

On April 17, 2017, The American Oil and Gas Reporter published “Trump Administration Initiating Major Changes” – an Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C. analysis of the new administration’s executive and regulatory initiatives affecting the oil and natural gas industry. The American Oil and Gas… Read more

Dimock, PA. Verdict Overturned

On March 31, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania overturned a $4.24 million verdict related to alleged contamination from unconventional development activities. The Scranton, Pennsylvania jury found in favor of nine plaintiffs who claim that an operator’s drilling… Read more

EPA Requests Extension in Methane Lawsuit

On April 7, 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requested that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit temporarily halt a lawsuit brought by the American Petroleum Institute that challenges EPA’s recent new source performance standards for sources in the oil and… Read more

EPA Requests Feedback on Expendable Regulations

On April 10, 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a request for comment for publication in the Federal Register. The request for comment seeks public comments “on regulations that may be appropriate for repeal, replacement, or modification.” Through comments to EPA,… Read more

Court Rejects Challenge to DRBC Moratorium

On March 24, 2017, The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania dismissed a landowner challenge to the Delaware River Basin Commission’s de facto moratorium on unconventional development activities in the eastern third of Pennsylvania. In 2010, the DRBC placed a moratorium on… Read more

EPA Previews New Electronic Submission Tools

On April 5, 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency previewed new electronic reporting tools at a meeting of the Environmental Council of the States. The electronic reporting tools are intended to streamline certain reports required by EPA, including hazardous waste reporting and air… Read more

Commonwealth Court Defines Stripper Wells

On March 29, 2017, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania issued a decision interpreting Act 13’s impact fee provisions.  Pennsylvania’s Act 13 requires certain unconventional wells to pay impact fees during the first several years of operation.  “Stripper wells” – defined by… Read more

Oklahoma District Court Dismisses Induced Seismicity Suit

On April 4, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma dismissed a lawsuit brought by Sierra Club against four oil and natural gas companies. Sierra Club sought injunctions from the District Court requiring: (1) defendants to reduce the amount of wastewater injected into the… Read more

PADEP Launches Esubmission Public Search

On March 21, 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced the launch of eSubmission Public Search, an online tool that allows the public to view and download PADEP documents submitted by oil and natural gas operators. The public may now search for and view… Read more

Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Now Protected as Endangered Species

On March 21, 2017, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rejected a request by housing developers, pesticide makers, farmers, utilities, and oil and natural gas companies to delay protections for the rusty patched bumble bee. A final rule protecting the species as endangered was published on January… Read more

BNA Posts HFB Insights on Risk Management Program Changes

On March 21, 2017, Bloomberg BNA published “EPA Changes to the Risk Management Program,” an HFB article discussing recent amendments to EPA’s risk management regulations. The amendments to the risk management program have the potential to affect a wide array of industries, including midstream oil… Read more

Another Induced Seismicity Suit Filed in OK

On March 3, 2017, the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma filed a lawsuit in the District Court of the Pawnee Nation, alleging damages from induced seismic events, including damages resulting from a September 3, 2016 magnitude-5.8 seismic event that occurred near two wastewater disposal wells. Specifically,… Read more

Early 2017 RRC Data Points to Industry Rebound

The monthly statistics published by the Texas Railroad Commission suggest that a noticeable industry rebound began in November of 2016. In December of 2016 alone, the RRC issued nearly 300 more permits than it issued in December of 2015. Increased operator activity was also noticeable in… Read more

BLM to Withdraw Hydraulic Fracturing Rule

On March 15, 2017, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, stated in a legal filing that it will withdraw its contested final rule that would have updated the Bureau’s regulations applicable to hydraulic fracturing operations on Federal and Indian Lands. The rule… Read more

U.S. Silica Holdings to Double Output

On February 28, 2017, Bloomberg reported that U.S. Silica Holdings Inc. is expected to double its total supply of silica over the next 12-18 months. Silica, the price of which has increased 20% since October, is used by many operators as a proppant in hydraulic fracturing operations.… Read more

President Trump to Nominate 3, Restore Quorum to FERC

On March 9, 2017, the Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald J. Trump will nominate Neil Chatterjee, Kevin McIntyre, and Robert Powelson as commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The five-commissioner panel has only two sitting commissioners and has been… Read more

Texas Supreme Court Finds Contamination Claims Barred by Limitations

On February 24, 2017, the Supreme Court of Texas found that a plaintiff’s oil-field contamination claims are barred by the state’s four-year statute of limitations because the claims were brought more than four years after the alleged spills and releases occurred. The plaintiff in the case alleged… Read more