Oil and Gas

Subscribe to Oil and Gas via RSS

The Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) announced it will hold the first of three stakeholder workshops next week for input on the discussion draft regulations governing hydraulic fracking that it released in December. The first workshop will be held on February 19 in Los Angeles. DOGGR also plans to hold workshops in Bakersfield and Sacramento.
Continue Reading DOGGR to Hold the First of Three Public Workshops on its Fracking Regulations

The Center for Biological Diversity filed another lawsuit yesterday in Alameda County Superior Court against the California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) challenging permits issued for oil and gas well operations that allow hydraulic fracturing. The Center alleges in the complaint that DOGGR’s issuance of permits for well operations that include fracking violates the state’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) program and Public Resources Code.
Continue Reading Center for Biological Diversity Files Another Fracking Suit Against DOGGR

On December 20, the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) released proposed regulations governing hydraulic fracturing. The regulations would require AOGCC approval to conduct fracking activities. This is in contrast to the California Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources Division (DOGGR) recently proposed “discussion draft” of potential fracking regulations (see…

Yesterday, the California Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) released what they are calling a “discussion draft” of a rule regulating hydraulic fracturing. The draft rule imposes new requirements specific to fracking operations, including testing, monitoring, disclosure and fluid handling obligations.
Continue Reading DOGGR Releases Draft Fracking Rule

New bills were introduced in the state Assembly (AB 7) and Senate (SB 4) to require disclosure of the chemicals and the amount of water used in hydraulic fracturing operations. This is at least the third attempt at fracking disclosure legislation, the last of which was tabled during the last session (see August 17 post).
Continue Reading Another Attempt at Fracking Disclosure Legislation in California

Environmental groups filed a complaint today in Alameda County Superior Court against the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) alleging that DOGGR violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by issuing permits for oil and gas wells that allowed hydraulic fracturing activities without sufficient environmental review. The complaint alleges that there are several environmental and public health impacts associated with fracking that DOGGR fails to consider in its CEQA analyses for oil and gas well permits. The complaint also alleges that DOGGR improperly excludes new oil and gas well permits from CEQA based on categorical exemptions for minor alternations to land or existing facilities.
Continue Reading Environmental Groups Sue DOGGR Over Fracking Permits

A study released Wednesday on the impacts of hydraulic fracturing at the Inglewood Oil Field found that fracking would not harm the environment.  The study focused on the approximately 1,000-acre Inglewood Oil Field in the Baldwin Hills of Los Angeles County.  Fracking has occurred in the area since about 2003.  The study showed that there…

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors asked its County Counsel to draft a moratorium on fracking for its October 15 meeting and asked staff to develop a timeline for revising its oil ordinance to address fracking. The County Board acted in response to a petition with 500 signatures collected by a local group, Aromas Cares For Our Environment, based on speculation that seismic equipment in the area was for oil or natural gas exploration.
Continue Reading San Benito County Moves Toward Fracking Moratorium in Advance of DOGGR Regulations

On August 29, the Center for Biological Diversity served the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with notice of intent to sue for BLM’s failure to reinitiate consultation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) relating to oil and gas leases and drilling permits issued in California. The notice alleges that BLM has continued to authorize fracking activities in California based on outdated biological opinions that fail to evaluate the impact of new fracking techniques on listed species. If BLM does not reinitiate ESA consultation and “halt ongoing oil and gas leasing and drilling activities” with 60 days of the notice, the Center indicates it will file a citizen suit under the ESA.
Continue Reading Environmental Group Serves Notice of Intent to Sue BLM re Fracking in California

About Stoel Rives Environmental Law

Learn More

Few firms view their Environment, Land Use, and Natural Resources practices as core legal services. Stoel Rives is one of them. The firm ranks #8 in the United States according to Law360’s list of the largest practices of its kind. Our sophisticated compliance counseling, permitting, regulatory development, and litigation practices continue a long tradition of specialization and deep experience. Our environment, land use, and natural resource attorneys incorporate prior agency experience, technical acumen, and industry knowledge into their legal advice. They also build strong relationships with agency officials and industry associations. Our litigation successes include landmark decisions. More than 60 attorneys, paralegals, and compliance analysts comprise Stoel Rives’ nationwide Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources practice.