California’s Cap and Trade Program is now a reality. Businesses needs answers to questions arising from this complex program. Now that the State of California has held its first auction of carbon allowances under the Program and the initial compliance period of 2013-2014 is now underway, Stoel attorneys Michael Mills, Tom Henry and Allison
High Speed Rail Gets Green Light from Feds
The Obama Administration finally gave its formal approval to the California High-Speed Rail Authority to begin construction of the high-speed railway beginning in the Central Valley. The approval, which came in the form of a formal “record of decision” from the Federal Railroad Administration, gives the green light to the Authority to begin acquiring hundreds
California Lawmakers Table Fracking Bills.
On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee shelved two bills relating to fracking, AB 972 and AB 591. AB 972 would have placed a moratorium on fracking in California pending issuance of state regulations governing the practice (See August 14 post). AB 591 would have required operators to disclose fracking activities and chemicals (See
Report Highlights Weaknesses in EPA’s Fracking Study
The American Petroleum Institute (API) and America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) recently issued a report from Battelle Memorial Institute pointing out the weaknesses in U.S. EPA’s proposed study of hydraulic fracturing operations. For example: “Congress requested a study ‘relying on best available science and independent sources of information.’ It appears questionable, because of its genesis
California Senate Committee Advances Bill for Fracking Moratorium Pending Further Regulation
The Senate Committee on Environmental Quality on July 3rd advanced a bill (AB 972) that would prohibit the State Oil and Gas Supervisor from approving the drilling of a fracking well until the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) adopts fracking regulations. Existing law requires a well operator to obtain approval
House Democrats Seek Tighter Regulation of Fracking on Federal Lands and BLM Extends its Comment Period
Describing the proposed BLM rule for fracking as “a good first step,” a group of 38 Democrats in the House of Representatives called for disclosure of fracking chemicals before drilling. The proposed regulations require disclosure of fracking chemicals only after the operation is complete. In a letter to the Department of the Interior, the lawmakers
South Coast AQMD and Los Angeles Consider Fracking Restrictions
In Los Angeles this Wednesday, three City Council members introduced a resolution urging the Governor and California regulators to impose a moratorium on fracking until the state determines that the practice does not endanger public health, the water supply or the environment. The concern arises in part because California, unlike some other oil-producing states, does
California Senate Votes Against Fracking Notification Bill
On Wednesday, the California Senate voted 17 to 18 against SB 1054, which would have required notification to nearby property owners of planned fracking operations. See the April 19, 2012, blog post for more details on the bill. The Senate granted the bill “reconsideration”, which would allow another vote before Friday’s deadline for bill advancement.
California Oil Producers Agree to Share Fracking Information
Several members of the Western States Petroleum Association have agreed to share information about their fracking operations in response to the California Department of Conservation’s request for operators to report to a disclosure registry, FracFrocus (see May 8, 2012 post). Many, including Occidental Petroleum Corp. and XTO Energy/ExxonMobil, have already posted to the website
Oil & Gas Industry Law Alert: U.S. EPA Continues Refinery Enforcement, Focuses on Flares
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice recently announced the latest proposed settlement in EPA’s Clean Air Act enforcement initiative against petroleum refiners. Hess Corporation will pay an $850,000 civil penalty and spend more than $45 million on new pollution controls at its Port Reading, New Jersey refinery to resolve alleged