Fracking

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Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a rule that would require notification to EPA before manufacturing, importing or processing a particular type of chemical commonly used in hydraulic fracturing operations. These chemicals, described as quaternary ammonium compounds, are used in fracking fluids to eliminate bacteria in the water that produces corrosive by-products.
Continue Reading EPA Requires Reporting of Certain Chemical Compounds Used in Fracking

See our California Environmental Law Blog for a discussion of the court’s decision in Center for Biological Diversity v. BLM, finding that BLM failed to consider the impacts of current fracking technologies in granting mineral leases on federal lands.
Continue Reading Court Finds Agency Must Consider Impacts of Current Fracking Technologies under NEPA

On March 14, 2013, two bills were introduced in the United States House of Representatives that would amend the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act to eliminate certain exclusions for oil and gas operations. In short, these bills would remove current exemptions under federal laws for oil and gas operations, including fracking operations, and would result in further regulation of air emissions and stormwater discharges associated with these activities.
Continue Reading Two House Bills Would Eliminate Regulatory Breaks for Oil and Gas Industry

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. For comparison, California recently released a “discussion draft” of potential regulations which would impose certain requirements on fracking operations but would not require additional approval (see California Environmental…

Interested in news involving hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” in California? Our sister blog, California Environmental Law Blog, actively keeps readers informed on the latest legal, business and regulatory developments on fracking.

Highlights from the past year include:

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Nine separate petitions for review were filed lask week in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging EPA’s New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for fracking well completions and revised National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for major sources at oil and gas production facilities. The petitioners include environmental groups, industry associations and the State of Texas.
Continue Reading Both Sides Challenge EPA’s New Fracking Air Emissions Rules

About the Mineral Law Blog

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Here Stoel Rives shares insight and analysis about key mineral law developments. Drawing on a very active natural resources practice, we aim to keep readers informed about the legal aspects of news that impacts exploration and development of all things mineral.