Archives: Regulatory

Subscribe to Regulatory RSS Feed

Federal Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction Halting the Biden Administration’s “Pause” on New Oil and Gas Lease Sales

By Jana Grauberger, Elizabeth Byrne and Stephen Wiegand on Posted in Business, Business Law, Energy & Natural Resources, Environmental Business & Transactional, Environmental Regulatory, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Litigation, Offshore, Oil & Gas, Oil & Gas Contracts, Regulatory
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty of the Western District of Louisiana granted Plaintiff States’ request for an injunction to block the Biden Administration’s pause on new federal oil and gas lease sales (“Lease Pause”).  Louisiana v. Biden, Jr., Case No. 2:21-cv-00778-TAD-KK, 2021 WL 2154963 (W.D. La. June 15, 2021).… Continue Reading

BOEM Assessing Interest in Wind Energy Leasing in the Gulf of Mexico

By Stephen Wiegand and Jana Grauberger on Posted in Energy, Offshore, Regulatory, Renewable Energy, Wind Energy
On June 8, 2021, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued a Request for Interest (RFI) to assess interest in possible commercial wind energy leasing in the Gulf of Mexico OCS. BOEM will consider the information received in response to the RFI to determine whether to schedule a competitive lease sale or issue a noncompetitive … Continue Reading

United States Supreme Court Issues First Decision in Climate Litigation

By Edward Duhe, Elizabeth Byrne and Kelly Brechtel Becker on Posted in Appellate, Energy & Natural Resources, Energy Litigation, Environmental, Environmental Business & Transactional, Environmental Regulatory, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Regulatory, Toxic Tort & Environmental Litigation
Updated from May 18, 2021 post. On May 17, 2021, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision in the climate change litigation affecting the fossil fuel industry. In a 7-1 decision (Justice Alito recused), the Court held that an appellate court must consider all grounds for removal when an appeal is taken pursuant to … Continue Reading

Federal Agency Recommends Updated Regulations for Pipeline Monitoring, Decommissioning, and Abandonment

By Matthew D. Simone, Jana Grauberger and Stephen Wiegand on Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Louisiana Mineral Law, Louisiana Oil & Gas Law, Offshore, Pipeline, Regulatory
On April 19, the United States Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) released a report (the “Report”) in response to a request from the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources regarding the oversight and decommissioning of pipelines in federal waters, which are mainly located within the Gulf of Mexico.  The Report concluded that the Bureau of … Continue Reading

FinCEN Seeking Comments on New Beneficial Owner Reporting Requirements

By William Bennett and Andrew Mahtook on Posted in Business, Business Law, Business Litigation, Contracts, Corporate, Environmental Business & Transactional, Finance, Property Law, Real Estate, Regulatory, Securities, Trade Secrets, Wills, Trusts & Estates
On April 5, 2021, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) released its advance notice of proposed rulemaking (“ANPRM”) to solicit public comments on questions pertinent to its implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act’s (“CTA”) beneficial owner reporting requirements. As discussed in a previous Energy Law Blog post, the CTA was adopted as part of the … Continue Reading

Uncertainty About Migratory Bird Treaty Act “Takes”: The Biden Administration Delays the Effective Date of the Final Regulations Governing Take of Migratory Birds

By Stephen Wiegand and Emily von Qualen on Posted in Energy, Energy & Natural Resources, Environmental, Environmental Regulatory, Offshore, Regulatory, Renewable Energy, Wind Energy
On February 5, 2021, the Fish Wildlife Service (“FWS”), under the Biden administration, announced that it was delaying the effective date of a rule promulgated by the Trump administration regarding “incidental takes” and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (“MBTA”). On January 7, 2021, the Trump administration published a final rule interpreting the MBTA as not … Continue Reading

Louisiana Climate Initiatives Interim Report Highlights Goals for Developing Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

By Jana Grauberger and Randee Iles on Posted in Climate Change, Energy, Environmental, Industry News, Oil & Gas, Regulatory, Renewable Energy
Governor Edwards’ Climate Initiatives Task Force published the Louisiana Climate Initiatives Interim Report earlier this month, which outlines the process by which the Task Force plans to develop climate actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana.… Continue Reading

Congress Passes the Corporate Transparency Act to Require Beneficial Ownership Disclosure

By Andrew Mahtook and William Bennett on Posted in Business, Business Law, Business Litigation, Contracts, Finance, Property Law, Real Estate, Regulatory, Securities, Trade Secrets
The Corporate Transparency Act, adopted as part of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (the “Act”), will require certain business entities (defined as “reporting companies”) to disclose to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) the identities of their beneficial owners and applicants. FinCEN will use these disclosures to create a … Continue Reading

Survey of Proposed Legislation Across the States Affecting the Energy Industry in 2021

By Cristian Soler and James E. Lapeze on Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Environmental, Environmental Regulatory, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Offshore, Oil & Gas, Regulatory, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Texas, Wind Energy
Several pieces of energy-industry legislation are teed up for debate as state legislatures reconvene for their first sessions of 2021. With topics ranging from offshore oil and gas moratoriums to restrictions on natural gas flaring and venting, the following is an overview of notable energy legislation to be heard in state legislatures this year.… Continue Reading

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR ISSUES 60-DAY MORATORIUM ON FEDERAL LEASING AND DRILLING PERMITS

By Kathleen Doody on Posted in Business, Business Law, Energy & Natural Resources, Environmental, Environmental Business & Transactional, Environmental Regulatory, Exploration and Production, Finance, Industry News, Offshore, Oil & Gas, Oil & Gas Contracts, Pipeline, Regulatory
Following through with President Biden’s campaign promise to halt oil and gas drilling on federal lands, on January 20, 2021, the Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (“Interior”) issued an order, effective immediately, mandating a 60-day moratorium on new oil and gas leases and drilling permits on public lands and waters (“Order”).… Continue Reading

It’s Heating Up: United States Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Proper Jurisdiction for Climate-Change Lawsuit

By Edward Duhe, Elizabeth Byrne, Michael Cash and Wade Howard on Posted in Appellate, Arbitration, Energy & Natural Resources, Energy Litigation, Environmental, Environmental Business & Transactional, Environmental Regulatory, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Regulatory, Toxic Tort & Environmental Litigation
Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the climate change lawsuit filed by the City of Baltimore in 2018 against energy companies. This case is one of a number of cases brought by states, cities, and other municipalities against energy companies alleging that the companies contributed to climate change. By granting certiorari … Continue Reading

Governor Edwards Indicates that Offshore Wind is on the Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico

By Randee Iles, Cristian Soler, Stephen Wiegand and Kathleen Doody on Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Environmental, Environmental Regulatory, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Offshore, Regulatory
Governor John Bel Edwards has identified offshore wind energy as a feature component of his recently announced renewable energy initiative for the Gulf of Mexico. The Governor announced the initiative at the inaugural meeting of his Climate Initiative Task Force.… Continue Reading

Advancement of CCS in Louisiana

By Aubrey Denton Landry, Madeline Thomas and Jeffrey D. Lieberman on Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Environmental, Environmental Business & Transactional, Environmental Regulatory, Industry News, Louisiana Law, Louisiana Mineral Law, Regulatory
Earlier this month, Gulf Coast Sequestration (“GCS”), a limited liability company based in Lake Charles, announced its plans to build and operate a carbon capture and sequestration (“CCS”) project that will create a repository 10,000 feet underground for the permanent storage of more than 80 million tons of carbon. Once completed, the GCS facility is … Continue Reading

Presidential Election 2020: Considerations for the Oil & Gas Industry

By Kathleen Doody and Madeline Thomas on Posted in Business, Business Law, Energy & Natural Resources, Environmental, Environmental Business & Transactional, Environmental Regulatory, Exploration and Production, Finance, Industry News, Offshore, Oil & Gas, Regulatory
In the midst of a chaotic year and a tense campaign season, issues such as COVID-19, race relations, and healthcare seem to be at the forefront of Americans’ minds as they head to the polls on November 3.  But the oil and gas industry stands to be impacted regardless of the election outcome in November, … Continue Reading

Department of Interior Proposes New Financial Assurance and Decommissioning Regulations

By Jana Grauberger, Stephen Wiegand and Kathleen Doody on Posted in Exploration and Production, Offshore, Oil & Gas, Oil & Gas Contracts, Pipeline, Regulatory
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (“BSEE”) recently issued a proposed rule on Risk Management, Financial Assurance and Loss Prevention (“Proposed Rule”), which was published in the Federal Register on October 16, 2020 and is now open for public comment. The Proposed Rule is the result … Continue Reading

U.S. Supreme Court To Review Scope of Appellate Review for Federal Officer Removal in Climate Change Litigation

By Edward Duhe and Elizabeth Byrne on Posted in Appellate, Arbitration, Energy & Natural Resources, Energy Litigation, Environmental, Environmental Business & Transactional, Environmental Regulatory, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Regulatory, Toxic Tort & Environmental Litigation
Today, the United States Supreme Court granted a Petition for Certiorari filed by energy companies in Baltimore’s climate change lawsuit.  By granting the petition, the Supreme Court has agreed to review the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision remanding the suit to state court after rejecting the energy companies’ contention that they were acting as … Continue Reading

DOI Announcement of a Proposed Rule on Risk Management, Financial Assurance and Loss Prevention

By Kathleen Doody on Posted in Bankruptcy, Business, Construction, Energy & Natural Resources, Energy Litigation, Environmental, Environmental Business & Transactional, Environmental Regulatory, Exploration and Production, Finance, Industry News, Offshore, Oil & Gas, Pipeline, Regulatory, Sublease
The long-awaited proposed changes to the Department of Interior’s Financial Assurance Rule (“Proposed Rule”) were finally announced yesterday by the Trump Administration.  The announcement provides, among other things, that the proposed rulemaking is in efforts to clarify, streamline and provide greater transparency to the financial assurance requirements (e.g., supplemental bonding) for OCS lessees and grant … Continue Reading

U.S. Customs Revokes Recent Offshore Wind Ruling; Maintains Uncertainty Whether the Jones Act Applies to Wind Farm Installations on the OCS

By Kathleen Doody, David L. Reisman and Brett Wise on Posted in Business, Energy & Natural Resources, Environmental, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Maritime, Offshore, Oil & Gas, Regulatory
On July 15, 2020, the Unites States Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) issued a ruling (HQ H309672) in connection with the installation of an offshore wind farm located off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts in U.S. territorial waters (the “July 15 Ruling”).  CBP determined that activities to be conducted in connection with the … Continue Reading

U.S. Department of Interior Announces Formal Partnership with Norway to Promote and Share Offshore Energy Knowledge and Experience

By Kathleen Doody on Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Environmental, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Offshore, Oil & Gas, Regulatory
Yesterday, the United State Department of Interior (DOI) announced the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy of the Kingdom of Norway to formalize a partnership to share best practices, knowledge, experience, policy, and regulatory initiatives in connection with the development of as oil, gas, and wind energy … Continue Reading

Climate Change Jurisdiction: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Kicks Climate Change Case Back to State Court

By Edward Duhe, Elizabeth Byrne and Kelly Brechtel Becker on Posted in Appellate, Energy & Natural Resources, Energy Litigation, Environmental, Environmental Business & Transactional, Environmental Regulatory, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Regulatory, Toxic Tort & Environmental Litigation
Amidst historically low oil prices and economic shutdowns, fossil fuel companies continue to defend against lawsuits brought by state and local governments claiming climate-change related damages.  In two companion cases, a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decided whether a federal district court could properly exercise jurisdiction over climate … Continue Reading

OSHA Addresses Reporting COVID-19 Cases as Job-Related and In-Person Workplace Inspections

By Thomas J. McGoey II and Courtney Turkington on Posted in Aviation, Business, Business Law, Business Litigation, Class Actions, Construction, Employment Law, Energy & Natural Resources, Energy Litigation, Environmental, Environmental Regulatory, Exploration and Production, Labor & Employment, Litigation, Oil & Gas, Regulatory
On May 19, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) issued two noteworthy enforcement memos. The first memo announced the reversal of OSHA’s April 10, 2020 policy that limited the requirement to track on-the-job cases of COVID-19 to health-care facilities, emergency response providers, and corrections facilities. The new policy, which goes into effect on May 26, … Continue Reading

COVID-19 as a Force Majeure? The Texas and Louisiana Perspectives

By Laura Springer Brown and Jillian Marullo on Posted in Business, Business Law, Business Litigation, Construction, Contracts, Energy & Natural Resources, Energy Litigation, Environmental Business & Transactional, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Litigation, Louisiana Law, Louisiana Mineral Law, Louisiana Oil & Gas Law, Maritime, Maritime, Oil & Insurance, Maritime, Oil & Insurance Business Law, Maritime, Oil & Insurance Litigation, Oil & Gas, Oil & Gas Contracts, Pipeline, Regulatory, Texas
Today, countries worldwide are responding to a pandemic of respiratory disease spreading from person-to-person caused by a novel coronavirus.  The disease has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).  The pandemic poses a serious public health risk, and government response has included closure of schools and businesses, declarations of emergency, and issuance of a variety … Continue Reading

Commissioner of Conservation Issues Letter Addressing Emergency Measures to Help Louisiana Oil and Gas Industry

By Jamie D. Rhymes, Jeffrey D. Lieberman and Caleb J. Madere on Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Environmental, Environmental Regulatory, Exploration and Production, Industry News, Louisiana Law, Louisiana Mineral Law, Louisiana Oil & Gas Law, Oil & Gas, Regulatory
The impacts of COVID-19 have rapidly swept across the country and the globe. Coupled with the recent decline in oil and gas prices, many operators are left scrambling in an attempt to navigate unprecedented circumstances.  With shutdowns and stay-at-home orders in place and regulatory deadlines looming, Louisiana operators are looking for guidance from regulators on … Continue Reading
LexBlog